The decision to overturn a controversial red card causes a stir with fans on social media as Doncaster win their appeal ahead of the playoffs.
On the final day of League Two, Doncaster played a 2-2 draw with Gillingham, extending their unbeaten run to 12 games and securing their qualification for the playoffs as they finished fourth.
Despite being 2-0 up in the game at Priestfield, their goalkeeper Thimothee Lo-Tutala got sent off on 55 minutes.
Timothee Dieng’s goal and an own goal from Tom Anderson then got the Gills level.
Lo-Tutala received a red card from referee Alex Chilowicz, who is a former MLS official, for handling the ball outside the area when his defender attempted to head it back to him.
Initially, Rovers were set to be without their first-choice goalkeeper for the playoff semi-final first leg against Crewe Alexandra, but they decided to appeal.
An independent appeal ruled in favour of Doncaster, allowing the Hull City loanee to play at Gresty Road on Monday.
However, it is concluded that although the goalkeeper clearly handled the ball, it does not qualify as a denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity since there were three defenders and the ball was not on its way into the net.
According to the rulebook, a yellow card would have been the appropriate punishment.
This is the most blatant red card you’ll ever see. How on earth has it been overturned?! #drfc #crewealex https://t.co/sHgcbRhCss pic.twitter.com/PO1VwbbIDp
— Red Alex (@RedAlexCrewe) May 1, 2024
DONCASTER STATEMENT:
We can confirm that the red card received by Thimothée Lo-Tutala during the draw at Gillingham on April 27 has been rescinded.
The club submitted an appeal on the grounds of wrongful dismissal against the decision to dismiss Lo-Tutala for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity by handling the ball outside his area.
An independent disciplinary panel found in favour of the club and overturned the red card, which means the goalkeeper will not serve a suspension.
Lo-Tutala is therefore available for selection in Monday’s League Two playoff semi-final first leg at Crewe Alexandra.
As mentioned, the decision to overturn red card causes a stir with fans as Doncaster win their appeal ahead of the League Two playoffs…
@Eddie_K_1974: One of the most blatant reds I’ve ever seen… and I’ve been watching live football since 1985……. Very, very odd decision to overturn it…. #EFL
@BlueBrazil1975: If your legal team got that over turned reckon they could get the decisions against Peter Sutcliffe, Rolf Harris, Jimmy Saville and Gary Glitter over turned. What were the EFL smoking at the hearing. Staggering!!!
@bcafcwin: The most blatant red card this season overturned. No punishment for denial of a clear goal scoring opportunity. Clear who the league want promoted isn’t it.
@PaulWinterman: Absolutely correct. Ball was going wide and 3 defenders were going to stop it before the forward got to it anyway. Glad they had the balls to appeal. #drfc
@DaveyMcGravy: The only explanation for overturning this is that they looked at our goal scoring record this season and realised that we’d have still put it wide even with no keeper in the goal!
@RedMoshMan_RTID: It just gets better. Can it get better by annoyance anymore player related news, maybe a contract extension of a certain RW? 🤞🙏
@jmb_013: The wailing and gnashing of teeth over this!! You’d think #DRFC made the rules.
@LJRT15:
Was the ball heading directly to goal? No.
Was the attacker closer to ball when it was handled? No
Would the attacker got to the ball first? No
I understood why it was given but it was a rushed decision by the ref based solely on the fact he handled outside the area.
@AdamBat92308251: I could understand the Red. I thought it was an attacker in an offside position which forced the header back. The ball was headed wide and the attacker would of had to out pace three defenders and the keeper to get a chance from wide. Not a Dogso. Ref made a mess of it rushing
@rtidkeaton: Huge. Never a red anyway. #drfc
@DRFC_TROTTER: I’m not complaining but how. Fucking miracle #drfc
@CAFC_Cayden: How have they done that then. Deliberately handballed outside the box is a guaranteed red no? #CreweAlex #Drfc
@RedMoshMan_RTID: Yellow any day of the week, wasnt a clear goal scoring opportunity. It’s in the rules
@MC170496: So what you’re telling me is that it wasn’t a red and we’ve been robbed of 11 in a row? 🧐🧐🧐 #drfc
@MightyroverMatt: Yellow all day long, the ball wasn’t goal bound and defenders in the cover would have cleared the ball before the striker would have gotten to it a second time so it’s a yellow.
@YamYamLukeyT: Stevie Wonder on the FA appeals panel? Obviously its paid off but I can’t believe the club even submitted an appeal 😂.
@MattyDavies98_: Well… that’s… something. Not sure how we’ve managed to appeal that as it was quite literally a DOGSO handball. Not complaining mind you. Head and shoulders above every other keeper at this club!!! #drfc
@maxbarwick_: 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍 that had fully made my week
@ctfcwes: I’ve never seen something so embarrassing in all my life , the most obvious red card my guy handled the ball outside the box like fuck off man
@Liz_Robinson_xx: He’s gonna score from a corner in the playoffs
@jaisra02: Wtf how? 🤣 Bro stopped the ball from going towards the goal from outside the box ahahhaha
@ChrisNeedh72549: All other clubs fans having a bitch fit over this. Fuck off ya daft cunts, we gave you all a 7 month head start.
@MightyroverMatt: Fking get in, I said it should be appealed up the mighty red and whites ⚪️🔴⚪️🔴
@_joeb0501: I’m pleased for them because I want them to go up but how on Earth have this been overturned 😂
@NorskeGills: No way should that be overturned. Absolutely disgraceful decision
Wtf 😂 #CreweAlex https://t.co/ahOY2KJVjw pic.twitter.com/Tyr6vuyhAL
— DAN🏴🇬🇧 (@Dan__CAFC) May 1, 2024
Always find it curious how ingrained the assumption is that a goalkeeper handling outside the box is automatically a red. https://t.co/EL7LspbopQ pic.twitter.com/ZAwKDfHyFz
— Joel Shooter (@joelshooter47) May 1, 2024

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