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Exclusive: Ex-PL ref discusses Bednarek sending-off

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Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey has recently given his opinion about Jan Bednarek’s recent sending-off against Manchester United.

Halsey was recently exclusively talking to This Is Futbol and he was talking about the recent games in the Premier League. One topic of discussion was Bednarek’s controversial red card for the Saints in their 9-0 mauling at the hands of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United.

United were awarded a penalty late in the game as Anthony Martial had taken a tumble following a challenge from the Polish defender. After a VAR call, referee Mike Dean sent Bednarek off and handed United a spot-kick, with Bruno Fernandes stepping up to score from the spot (as per the Daily Mail).

Was Mike Dean right to send off Bednarek?

Yes

Yes

No

No

Halsey told This Is Futbol: “I think that was different to the David Luiz incident, because David Luiz was running back and trying to get back and he just got too close to the defender. In this instance, Martial cut across him, didn’t he? So he wasn’t chasing back behind him, he’s trying to get out of the way to not make a challenge.

“And I think Martial was already going down; if there was any contact whatsoever, it must have been absolutely minimal. It was difficult to tell, if there was contact or not.

“He’s trying to get out of the way and he’s already going down. For me, once you see the replay, it’s not a penalty. In real time, it’s very difficult for Mike Dean. Any of us would give a penalty in that situation from where Mike was but when you see the replay, it wasn’t a penalty.

“I fully expected, although VAR can’t instruct the referee to caution players, I thought once Mike Dean had seen [the replay], I was pretty sure he would have come back and cautioned Martial for simulation. I don’t think anybody would have complained had that been the case.”

After Bednarek was sent off at Old Trafford, Solskjaer’s men scored three more goals as Fernandes, Martial and Daniel James got a goal each (as per WhoScored).

While staying on the pitch might not have changed too many things for Southampton since they were losing 6-0 anyway, they have various injury and suspension issues at the moment, with Jannik Vestergaard suffering from a knee problem.

Mohamed Salisu is also out of action and Nathan Tella has a thigh injury. Elsewhere, Ibrahima Diallo has a muscle problem and Theo Walcott is also out of action. Oriol Romeu and Kyle Walker-Peters are also out (as per Premier Injuries).

It would’ve cost the Saints in the long run, but since the red card has now been overturned, perhaps its impact has been limited to the effect it has had on Southampton’s goal difference.

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European Football Writer. Contributed for FootballItalia, Manchester United, Manchester Evening News, Calciomercato, GFFN and more.