fbpx
Connect with us

English Premier League

Red card or not? Thomas Frank and Fabian Hurzeler react as Joao Pedro escapes sending off

Red card or not? Thomas Frank and Fabian Hurzeler react as Joao Pedro escapes a sending off in Brighton and Brentford’s 0-0 draw.

Brighton’s Joao Pedro was cleared of a red card by VAR and no further action was taken against the Brazilian after appearing to swing an elbow towards Brentford’s Yehor Yarmolyuk.

Pedro had been the original victim with Yarmoliuk pulling at his shirt, as the Brighton man tried to run towards goal, Yarmoliuk receiving a yellow card.

However, Pedro then attempted to lashed out, but clearly miss his opponent. On-pitch official Andy Madley took no action and the incident had been checked by the video assistant referee (VAR), with there no suggestion for Madley to look at the incident.

Brentford boss Thomas Frank said in his news conference first when questioned if it should have been a red card: “Yes. As I understand the rules, you can’t swing an arm to hit someone, whether you hit them or not.

“That’s why we have got VAR. It happened, we have to make it [VAR] better in the future.”

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, didn’t see the incident the same way and when told of what Thomas Frank had to say on it, he replied: “It’s an interesting opinion, I see it completely different. For me it’s not a red card, why would it be a red card? You just try to get free from someone.”

Ex-Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg, speaking to Amazon Prime said: “If we look at the laws of the game as it’s written, it has to be ‘to strike an opponent or attempt to strike an opponent’.

“Because there was no contact he can’t be sent off the field of play for the contact. Therefore, it’s whether he attempted to strike the opponent.

“The more I look at it, because it’s an unusual action, especially from behind he is looking towards Andy Madley when he swings his arm. He keeps his arm quite close to his body and I think it’s more of a gesture to the referee.

“Andy Madley is in a very good position. Joao Pedro couldn’t have been sent off for the contact but he could have been sent off for the attempted contact. I believe it’s a gesture more than an attempted strike.

“I think Joao Pedro makes a gesture to the referee but if he wanted to swing and use brutality he would have swung his arm out and created contact.”

Have a watch of their reaction in the videos below…

The Premier League Match Centre tweeted: “The referee’s call of no red card to João Pedro for violent conduct was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed the referee’s call was not clearly and obviously wrong.”

Red card or not? Fans gave their thoughts as Thomas Frank and Fabian Hurzeler react as Joao Pedro escapes a sending off…

@Rxchys: That is genuinely one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen, how can the refs in this league be so bad

@PlaSystems: Not even a discussion, that’s an obvious red card. The intent is absolutely clear. Does a player have to have his face smashed to pieces before his attacker is punished? No protection for players and that’s a clear dereliction of duty from the governing body and the referees.

@IamtheadamLFC: The intent is clearly there whether he missed or not. That should have been a straight Red Card.

@prijasraj: But let’s send Jhon Duran off who had no intent 🙃

@andydavis1978: It’s madness that anyone can look at that and say it’s not a red.

@RetroWrestling: So if a player attempts a kung fu leap kick but the other player dodges it, that’s fine? @FA_PGMOL investigate Cunha for pulling someone’s glasses off but this is not even a card?

@nicholasareid: Yet again @FA_PGMOL showing themselves to be utterly incompetent and unfit for their jobs.

@tomtweettime: That’s such an obvious red card. What is it with PL refs and elbows?

@darrentimmsgolf: Has to be a red. Nothing in the rules about contact! Intent is all that’s needed!

@slcameron9: Is intent accountable? If so then probably red.

@Chris0S3: That is one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen… are var actually actually saying that’s allowed? I’m shocked they haven’t sent him off, very blatant attempt at elbowing his opponent pretty violently.

@AdamKnights04: That’s a red card 🟥⚽️

@s4myoung: Estupinan last week gets away with nearly breaking someone’s leg and now Pedro gets away with an elbow. Both are somehow free to play against Villa in the next game whilst Duran is suspended. All we ask for is some consistency.

@JayMTDee: An absolute laughing stock of an organisation. How can you get things wrong so many times?!

@CpfcRyan1995: So you can just swing elbows at people now? Whether you catch them or not? Just like you can go in studs up on someone’s shins, but if it doesn’t break their leg, it isn’t a red card? What a shit show.

@Chris_LCFC1884: He swung his elbow with the intention of clearing him out. I mean who swings their elbow in the direction of an opponent for fun? You’re a farcical organisation, run by fucking muppets. 🤡

@AubsEFC1985: So players can throw a punch, headbutt or elbow so long as it doesn’t make contact with an opponent. Laughable you lot and the @FA_PGMOL are

@RobinsReds_: PGMOL are absolutely clueless. No hint of bias or corruption whatsoever, just 100% completely and utterly incompetent and wrong. Pedro deliberately and purposefully smashes his elbow towards the player’s face in frustration and misses by centimetres.

@Ant_Mossarelli: It pretty clearly and obviously was wrong. That was attempted GBH. He makes contact, he breaks the guy’s face. Straight red all day. Refs are pants and VAR is failing them and followers of the sport.

@adam_harri52995: Great consistency by the PGMOL

Related Topics
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

More in English Premier League