Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has said that Jeremy Simpson was right to send off Leeds defender Luke Ayling in the fiery clash against Brentford on Saturday.
Ayling was given his second yellow card late on and it looked like a harsh decision – especially to Leeds fans.
However, on Sky Sports Ref Watch show, Gallagher said that it was the correct decision.
Asked if he could have any complaints about the red card Gallagher said emphatically, “No.
“Once you’re on a yellow card you just don’t make that kind of tackle.
“And you don’t need to. In that position it’s not massively important to stop the player.”
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OPINION
Gallagher was clear that he thought the Ayling tackle deserved a second yellow card, but surely refs can use some common sense in these situations? It was not clearcut and in injury time is there any need to send someone off for a tackle like that? Gallagher wasn’t very consistent in his views either, when he was asked about a similar challenge from Brentford’s Moses Odubajo. He said the difference was the height of the tackle but also said it might have had something to do with Leeds winning the ball and the ref not brining the play back. But that’s not a reason to not give a yellow. If a challenge deserves a card then the referee should bring play back once the ball goes out of play. Footballers are incensed when referees don’t apply the rules fairly and consistently and it seems to be something Simpson failed to do on Saturday.