The EFL have sparked controversy for overturning what many fans see as the “most blatant red card ever” ahead of the play-offs.
Doncaster Rovers produced a 12-game unbeaten streak in League Two to sneak into the four play-off spots. But they surrendered a 2-0 lead to draw away at Gillingham in their final game last Saturday (April 27) after goalkeeper Thimothee Lo-Tutala was sent off.
The Frenchman, who has been a key part of the Donny resurgence, got in a terrible mix up with one of his defenders and clearly handled outside his box. American referee Alex Chilowicz went to his pocket and showed the red.
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That would have meant he missed their semi-final first leg away at Crewe Alexandra next Monday. But an appeal on the grounds of wrongful dismissal has been successful, with an independent disciplinary panelling finding in Doncaster’s favour.
Countless fans were stunned at the decision, with one reacting: “This is the most blatant red card you’ll ever see. How on earth has it been overturned?!”
A second echoed: “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….”
What do you think of the decision? Let us know in the comments section.
(Image: Alan Walter/REX/Shutterstock)
“The most blatant red card this season overturned. No punishment for denial of a clear goal scoring opportunity,” fumed a third, while a fourth exclaimed: “How an earth has this been overturned. You don’t need VAR to see that is outside the area.”
And a fifth commented: “Wtf how? Bro stopped the ball from going towards the goal from outside the box ahahhaha.”
However, a goalkeeper can only be sent off for handling outside of their area when they’re denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
When Lo-Tutala palmed at the ball, there were three of his team-mates in front of him with a Gillingham attacker behind them, and it wasn’t going towards the goal.
As a result, ex-MLS official Chilowicz – who joined the EFL in December after relocating from the United States – should have brandished only a yellow card at the time.
The IFAB rulebook states: “A direct free kick is awarded and: a yellow card is shown if a promising attack was stopped, or. a red card is shown if a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity was denied.”