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Furious manager wants VAR in the Championship after controversial red card

One furious manager wants to know why VAR is not being used in the Championship after his side got a controversial red card on Sunday evening.

Thomas Frank’s side faced Swansea City, in what was the first semi final of the second tier’s playoffs. Prior to this, Steve Cooper’s side had no won any matches against Fulham, Brentford or Cardiff earlier in the season.

Brentford ended up losing 1-0, but the main talking point of the game came when referee Keith Stroud’s decised to show Rico Henry a straight red card for a sliding challenge on Connor Roberts on the 66th minute.

This came despite video replays appearing to show the tackle as legitimate, causing the Brentford bench to fume at the decision, and quite right too.

Sky Sports’ Jobi McAnuff said: “I thought it was harsh. For me, it’s not really whether he gets the ball or not; I didn’t really think he was using excessive force. I think it was a reckless challenge, but that should say it’s a yellow card, more than a red.”

Sky Sports’ Gary O’Neil added: “Seeing it back, Rico will be disappointed with it. Not that it’s overly aggressive or he’s gone to endanger anybody, just the fact that it gives the ref an opportunity to send him off. When Brentford see that back, they’ll ask: ‘Rico, do you need to go in like that?’.

“I think it’s worth an appeal. I don’t think it’s a given but it’s definitely worth asking the question because it’s right on the borderline between red and yellow.”

Swansea’s Steve Cooper said at the end of the game: “I thought the first half was very even, a tactical game with quite a lot going on and I think both teams had some good chances. Second half there was a lot going on, with the penalty, the goal and the red card. It’s different territory, knowing you’ve got another 90 minutes or so, but I’m pleased with the performance. It’s a 1-0 advantage, but it’s only an advantage if you use it well.

“It was a clear red card. I like Rico Henry and I think he’s a really good player, but it was dangerous, it was reckless and I’m just really happy that Connor got up. Unfortunately for them it was a clear red and I’ve got no argument.”

Brentford’s Thomas Frank commented: “Firstly, I want to say that I’m unbelievably proud of my players. Of course, everyone is saying that Brentford have crumbled in the last few games. I 100 per cent disagree and I don’t think so. And I think, if we did, we wouldn’t have come out with that personality and approach to this game. I think we were, by far, the best side until the red card in a good football match between two good footballing sides. Until the penalty, we should have been at least one up.

“When you play two games for promotion to the Premier League and you play for £170m, people need to be really, really sure when they make the decisions. I don’t understand why there can’t be VAR in these games. With so much at stake, they need to nail it. From my point of view, it was absolutely not a red card. We are going to appeal this and I am absolutely 100 per cent sure we’ll have a decision where Rico can play on Wednesday.

“I spoke to the referee about that incident – and funnily enough, he thought it was a red card.”

Another poor decision by Keith Stroud went viral when AFC Wimbledon played Bradford a while back, just have a watch of this…

Ghana international Andre Ayew found the top-right corner in style in the 81st minute, handing Brentford their third straight defeat, having won seven matches in a row since the restart.

As the furious manager states how much he wants VAR in the Championship after that controversial red card, fans couldn’t help but have their say…

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