Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier defended Steven Gerrard after the England midfielder was sent off against Galatasaray in the Amsterdam tournament.
The Reds lost a bad-tempered match, in which the ill-feeling which has marred recent club and country games involving English and Turkish teams reared its head, 2-1 in Ajax's impressive Amsterdam Arena.
Fellow substitute Neil Mellor was also red-carded for a dreadful mistimed tackle on Gabriel Tamas only minutes after coming on late in the match.
Gerrard received a second booking for dissent in the wake of Mellor's dismissal, after also being booked for his part in a second-half flare-up involving several players.
It had been sparked by Igor Biscan's poor challenge on Berkant Goktan but Gerrard was enraged by the angry reaction of Hakan Sukur.
Houllier said: "They lost a bit of their cool. It damaged the atmosphere and we couldn't play well after that."
Gerrard is set to feature in England's Euro 2004 qualifying match in Turkey in October, and Houllier admitted: "It's going to be some game in October.
"The whole thing was started by a bad tackle by Igor Biscan but the guy was not even injured."
Gerrard will miss the Reds' opening game of the Barclaycard Premiership season against Chelsea at Anfield on August 17 following his two bookings at Stamford Bridge on the final day of last season.
However, Houllier does not think the midfielder will receive a further ban because of yesterday's red card during what was supposed to be a `friendly'.
"No, I don't think so - it was two yellow cards," he added. "I think he was frustrated because of the reaction of Hakan Sukur."