Soccer: Nelsen wears armband, gets sent off

Ryan Nelsen. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Days after his home city was flattened by a massive earthquake, All Whites soccer captain Ryan Nelsen has been sent off in soccer's Premier League as his Blackburn Rovers lost 1-4 to Aston Villa.

Nelsen, who wore a black armband in the match as a mark of respect to the quake victims, was sent off late for his second yellow card after fouling Ashley Young, who scored twice.

The win moved Villa up to 12th, one place above Blackburn and five points clear of the relegation zone.

Nelsen, 33, whose family live in Christchurch, told reporters on Friday he had struggled to comprehend the scale of the destruction as he watched television footage of the disaster.

He had been awoken in the early hours of Tuesday by a flurry of text messages from friends.

His sister, who was 37 weeks pregnant, went into early labour after the quake and birth to a baby boy, George.

"From all the carnage and all the havoc it's a really nice glimmer of light to come out of it."

Blackburn have granted Nelsen permission to fly home on compassionate grounds although he intended to remain in England for the time being.

"If my family wanted me to go back, I'd go back tomorrow because it puts everything into perspective," he said.

"I grew up in Christchurch. I played in the parks, I ran around all the monuments. To see all your memories destroyed is surreal."