Edgar Davids was sent off following a post-match scuffle in his first ever match as manager of Portuguese side Olhanense on Sunday.
The former Holland and Juventus midfielder travelled to the south coast to face Lusitano in his opening fixture for third-tier Olhanense, which finished 0-0.
Despite the game being short on action, the game erupted shortly after full-time when Brazilian Leleco became embroiled in a dispute with Lusitano boss Jose Bizarro.
Davids intervened to separate his midfielder from the opposition manager, but was bizarrely shown a straight red card by the referee for his actions, while Bizarro received just a yellow.
The 74-cap international was so incensed by the decision he ignored his media duties and stormed straight out of the stadium.
Olhanense president Luis Torres said: 'The referee wanted to be a protagonist. It must have been to tell his children that he once sent Davids off.'
The 47-year-old turned out for the likes of Ajax, AC Milan, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Tottenham across an illustrious career.
Davids, a recognisable figure due to his diminutive stature and signature goggles he wore due to glaucoma, was nicknamed 'the Pitbull' by former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal for his tenacious style of play.
He also turned out for Barnet as player-manager in a bizarre spell from 2012-2014, which saw the side get relegated to the Conference.
Davids give himself the No 1 shirt and received eight yellow cards and three reds in his first eight games in non-league football.
Torres, who oversaw Davids' appointment last week, previously stated: 'It was a quick and simple process. [Davids] will be a great coach, which is why we hired him.
'Him being a great figure of the football world, with all the media attention that it will bring and the doors it will open, is a bonus. But we hired him to coach, and we believe in his abilities.'
Olhanense, who lie fourth in the Campeonato de Portugal Group H, travel to CF Lagos on Wednesday night.