Featured Image Credit: Swiss Super League
Topics: Granit Xhaka, Football
Nasir Jabbar
Taulant Xhaka was involved in one of the strangest VAR moments following his shocking headbutt during Basel vs. Zurich.
The Swiss Super League clash on Sunday produced FOUR red cards as Basel received three of them in a spiky affair.
Basel were reduced to 10 men when Kasim Nuhu was shown a red card four minutes from time. Wouter Burger then picked up a red card deep into stoppage time.
Zurich's Mirlind Kryeziu also received his marching orders before Granit Xhaka's brother, Taulant, received a red card following a VAR review.
In a moment of madness, Taulant headbutted Nikola Katic in the chest - similar to Zinedine Zidane's headbutt against Marco Materazzi.
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Taulant initially picked up a yellow card for the incident, his second of the game.
However, following a VAR review, the match referee rescinded the yellow card to overturn it to a straight red card.
The 32-year-old had to return to the pitch from the dressing room as the referee made his decision in a bizarre moment - even by VAR standards.
After the 2-0 defeat, Taulant took to social media to apologise for his red card against Zurich.
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On Instagram, he wrote: "As an experienced player and captain of this team, I have a role model function, especially in difficult moments, which I unfortunately didn't take advantage of in this situation."
The ill-tempered game also had seven yellow cards as Taulant will be out of action through suspension.
The defeat leaves Basel in fifth place in the table, four points behind fourth-placed Luzern who occupy a Europa League spot.