Leyton Orient manager and assistant sent off at full time while ‘preparing to shake referee’s hand’

Leyton Orient manager Richie Wellens and his assistant Paul Terry were sent off at full time while ‘preparing to shake the referee’s hand’.

A video of the moment has emerged on social media following the O’s 3-2 defeat away to Wycombe Wanderers in midweek.

Leyton Orient remain without a win in League One and also saw defender Dan Happe red carded.

Then on Friday the 18th of August, the club stated: “Following the red cards received by Richie Wellens and Paul Terry after Tuesday night’s defeat to Wycombe Wanderers, both have been charged by the FA for a breach of Rule E3.1.

“The club are required to submit a response to the charge by 6pm on Wednesday 23 August.

“There are standard penalties that may apply if the charges are admitted, but both are able to take to the touchline for this weekend’s fixture versus Blackpool.”

Leyton Orient’s manager and assistant manager sent off last night for trying to talk to the referee after the game 🤯🤯
pic.twitter.com/ePaMuNYwj4

— The72 – We Love the #EFL (@_The72) August 16, 2023

Wycombe picked up their first league goal of the new season with 15 minutes on the clock when centre-half Joe Low scored his first of the game, getting on the end of Luke Leahy’s cross and sent the ball into the bottom corner.

Having failed to score in their opening three games in all competitions, the O’s put a stop to that with a goal on 36 minutes when Theo Archibald’s cross was netted by Ruel Sotiriou.

Happe was sent off shortly into the second half after tugging back Dale Taylor when the last defender, then Wycombe got back in front as Low nodded home another Leahy cross in the 68th minute.

Taylor looked as though he had made it safe for Wycombe, getting their third in the last 10 minutes but Sotiriou got one back to make it a nervy finish for the hosts.

Wellens saw a second yellow handed to him come full time, with assistant Paul Terry also dismissed by Thomas Parsons.

Orient said is their match report: “Following the final whistle, Richie Wellens and Paul Terry were somehow sent off, as they prepared to shake the referee’s hand.”

Due to new EFL rules, Richie Wellens and Paul Terry were unable to speak to the press following today’s defeat to Wycombe Wanderers.

Sp, Goalkeeping Coach Simon Royce gave his reaction instead.

Here’s what fans said as the Leyton Orient manager and assistant were sent off at full time while ‘preparing to shake the referee’s hand’…

@OrientSteve72: RW even said in pre game interview he was called on the Wednesday by ref to say he had made a mistake and card rescinded 🤷‍♂️

@Ldpking: But Wellens said in his interview got a phone call saying sorry and that red card was not going to stand 🤷‍♂️

@stutaylor2020: Very simple to fix… Make referees answer media questions after the game just a managers/players have to. Be transparent then there is no guessing on why the official made particular decisions

@StfcShaun: I thought if you want to chat to the ref you ask the fourth and they ask if the ref if thats ok and if so you go to the changing room and speak there not at the end of a game?

@beespod: Richie Wellens is notorious for abusing officials. He spent one of @leytonorientfc’s post-match interviews this pre-season complaining about officials in a friendly. Without audio, why are you assuming the officials have made a big error here?

@davidmusicteach: Surely all this talk about new approach would be easier if the officials in all professional leagues were professional, not just the officials in the Premier League and Championship? #lofc

@LOFC_Dan: Referee apologised post match, said he got it wrong and yet both charged, although how we got it so wrong I do not know

@alexjhurley: Good. This is a wild guess but I reckon they’ve just spent 90+ minutes goading, criticising and abusing him & his assistants and the decided to carry on after the final whistle. It’s not on, it needs to stop. Well done FA, EFL and refs. Let’s get some respect back.

@OrientFanTV: Referee was still a twat…..

@chrisw1811: If managers can’t talk to refs, make the refs talk to the media about their mistakes. Hold them accountable

@BrisbaneRdPaul: How was that got so wrong in the first place?

@BillyBy17: The referees in the English football league are either not up to the job or they’re corrupt , some I’ve seen this season were quite clearly both .

@FPL_BDLion: Tbf, you can’t tell what’s been said here. Also the second chap was clearly taking the piss with his exaggerated stance, so kinda brought it upon himself.

@DavidHu47410777: To be fair. If the refereeing standard wasn’t so abysmal managers wouldn’t feel the need to go out and talk to them. But yeah let’s let the referee have an absolute mare and then let them brandish the red card so they don’t have to explain themselves.

@TomColes560: The ego’s of these refs is outrageous

@ColinPep1: Regardless what the officials’ performance was like, managers and coaches should stay clear. Shake their hand, but say nothing. We need this eradicated from the game. Refs should then allow managers in to their dressing room 15 mins after the final whistle to explain anything.

I’m just going to leave this here. It’s not about being power hungry at all. It falls in line with the FA wanting to clean up the image of the game and influencing better behaviour of players and team members from grass roots football and up. Yes there will be people who won’t… pic.twitter.com/Ip1rvZhowQ

— Hedgey Hedgehog (@HedgeyHedgehog) August 17, 2023