Former Chelsea and Arsenal star Olivier Giroud sent off in 93rd minute for SCREAMING in referee’s face during Milan draw

OLIVIER GIROUD was sent off for screaming into the referee’s face at the end of AC Milan’s 2-2 draw with Lecce.

The ex-Arsenal and Chelsea man scored his ninth goal of the season to break the deadlock in the 28th minute.

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Olivier Giroud was initially booked for his protestations[/caption]

Reuters

He continued to argue with referee Rosario Abisso and was then sent off[/caption]

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Tijjani Reijnders then doubled the visitors’ advantage before the break as the seven-time European champions assumed complete control.

But a four-minute spell midway through the second half saw Lecce draw level.

That’s how thing remained, much to the frustration of the AC Milan players.

And Giroud‘s anger boiled over in stoppage time after his appeal for a handball on the edge of the penalty area was ignored.

France’s record scorer stormed over to referee Rosario Abisso and shouted in his face.

Play was stopped and Giroud was booked for the outburst, but that did not stop him continuing to give the official a piece of his mind.

When he stormed away, Abisso pulled out a red card and sent Giroud off.

The former Premier League star turned around and, when he realised he had been dismissed, he attempted to argue with the decision once more.

He eventually walked off the pitch, before Lecce scored from the resulting free-kick, only for the goal to be chalked off by VAR for a foul in the build-up as Milan held onto a point.

The result leaves AC Milan six points behind Serie A leaders Juventus and five adrift of local rivals Inter Milan.

Giroud’s nine goals have come in 16 games so far this season – taking his overall tally for Milan to 40 in 100 matches.