It’s fair to say Tunisia probably isn’t a fan of Mitch Duke. The former Western Sydney Wanderers captain opened the scoring for the Socceroos against the world number 30 nation on Saturday night with a sensational glancing header.
A renowned workhorse on the field, Duke put his body on the line time and again in the opening half an hour, with a series of fiery duels leaving him battered and bruised.
On one such aerial battle, Duke was sent painfully crashing to the turf near the Tunisian bench. Manchester United teenager Hannibal Mejbri picked up the ball – and furious that Duke had drawn a foul as he fell, he threw the ball back at the Australian.
Duke FIRES UP over bizarre altercation | 00:39
Duke was hit on the head by the tossed ball, and reacted furiously by delivering a withering spray towards the youngster. However, the Australian managed to keep his cool – knowing a yellow card would see him suspended from the Socceroos’ final group stage match after also picking up a caution against France.
However, referee Daniel Siebert then made the bizarre decision to call the Australian veteran back and force him to shake hands with the 19-year-old midfielder.
The pair then made up at halftime as Duke marched off the field, with Mejbri immediately coming up to him to apologise again.
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