http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport...-sending-off-at-stoke-vs-sunderland-1-6275335 âThat red card was wrongâ â Ex-Premier League ref Dermot Gallagher on Wes Brownâs sending off at Stoke vs Sunderland FORMER Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes Kevin Friend made a mistake in sending-off Sunderland defender Wes Brown in Saturdayâs game at Stoke. Friend opted to dismiss the former Manchester United man at the Britannia Stadium for a challenge on Stokeâs Charlie Adam, despite Brown winning the ball cleanly and making minimal contact with his opponent. The decision has been widely condemned by pundits ever since - relegation-threatened Sunderland went on to lose the Barclays Premier League game 2-0 - and Gallagher conceded the official had blundered. He told Sky Sports News: âI can keep this very short. We have to take it smack on the chin. The referee has lost concentration or not seen it. âIt is not a red card, thatâs all you can say. âBrownâs gone in hard but heâs entitled to do that. As a refereeing body you have to take that smack on the chin.â After a weekend full of controversial decisions, Gallagher also felt Phil Dowd had made a mistake in not sending-off Evertonâs Kevin Mirallas for a wild lunge on Liverpoolâs Luis Suarez in the Merseyside derby. âHe should have been sent-off,â said Gallagher. âHeâs come at speed and itâs high. âThe referee has got a body between him and Suarez and he hasnât seen it.â With the amount of Pundits/Ex Referees having a go at this decision, think the FA would become an even bigger laughing stock than they are currently Although I can see them upholding the decision just to be ****ers who are 'protecting the ref'
Even if the card is rescinded the game is still lost and another 3 points have gone begging. The game can't be replayed so what can be done? Better ref's, more technology, what? If the referee is deemed to have made a game changing decision that, in hindsight, was wrong do we go back to the result as it stood at the time of the decision? In that case we'd have still lost against both Hull & Stoke. Perhaps not conceding first away from home is what we should be concentrating on not ****e decisions that can't be changed after the game is finished. Just hope that the card will be rescinded and Brown won't be banned for 3 games.
I don't think this has anything to do with mistakes, but rather Friend has just carried on what he has being doing for years, and stitched us up good and proper..The main is a disgrace to football and should never referee a game again..
3 video replay appeals per team, that can be used to check goal decisions (if still relevant after Hawk eye), red cards and penalty decisions. would have a nice side effect as well: If the players claiming a foul/penalty are found to have dived, then they get an automatic "double yellow" red card - so sent off and 1 match ban.
i wouldn't bother with the double yellow, but make it a straight red. cheating shouldn't be treated more lightly. this should the chance to replay/check 'off-side decisions' as well as cards and penalties. it will actually help the refs out, so they should be all for it. takes the pressure of them making stupid, rash decisions....which is needed.
Why not have the referee consult with the assistant referee on the touch line and, if both agree, then the card is actioned? If they can't agree then the 4th official should have time to look at replays on TV whilst the 2 of them on the pitch are in discussion and adjudicate. No time wasted, no games spoilt with incorrect decisions.
12 reds in 81 matches 5 of them to Sunderland players. Wes Brown vs Stoke on Saturday John Mensah vs Liverpool in 2011 (successfully appealed) Lee Cattermole vs Portmouth 2010 (2 yellows) David Meyler same game vs Portsmouth in 2010 where we ended up conceding an equaliser in the 96th minute of injury time. Portsmouth also had Ricardo Rocha sent off. Lorik Cana vs Aston Villa in 2009 (2 yellows)
