By Dorcas Francis Koji
Manchester United legend Roy Keane has described Taiwo Awoniyi’s controversial red card as harsh, while fellow Premier League great Alan Shearer has also questioned the decision to send off the Super Eagles striker during Coventry City’s heavy defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion.
Awoniyi was dismissed in the second half of Coventry’s 5-0 Premier League loss on Sunday after an aerial challenge with Brighton defender Maxim De Cuyper.
The Nigerian’s arm made contact with De Cuyper’s face, prompting referee Tony Harrington to produce a straight red card for violent conduct. The decision was subsequently upheld following a video review.
Coventry were reduced to 10 men and went on to suffer a damaging defeat, leaving Frank Lampard’s side bottom of the Premier League table after four matches without a point or a goal.
Analysing the incident on Sky Sports, Keane admitted the decision appeared severe but also felt Awoniyi had given the referee an opportunity to punish him.
“I think the red card is a tough one. Awoniyi has raised his elbow as he is waiting for the Brighton player coming in, but was it a real swing? I do not know,” Keane said.
“I think it is harsh, but you have to ask Awoniyi, did you give the referee an opportunity to send you off today? The answer is yes.”
Keane’s comments came amid growing scrutiny of refereeing decisions across the Premier League over the weekend.
The former Manchester United captain had also criticised officials following Manchester City’s controversial 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, where City played for more than half the match with 10 men after Phil Foden’s early dismissal.
City eventually secured victory through Erling Haaland, whose goal was initially ruled out for offside before being overturned after a review.
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) later acknowledged that the decision was an error of judgement, while Manchester United manager Michael Carrick and former players including Keane and Gary Neville expressed their frustration.
Awoniyi, however, received stronger backing from Shearer, who argued that the Coventry striker did not appear to deliberately use his arm as a weapon.
“I have watched it a few times, and I am still trying to understand what Awoniyi is supposed to have done differently. Two players are competing for the ball. He jumps, his arm comes up naturally and catches De Cuyper,” Shearer said.
“There is contact. Nobody is denying that. But contact with somebody’s face cannot automatically mean violent conduct.”
The former Newcastle United striker also questioned the circumstances surrounding the decision, pointing out that Harrington did not immediately show Awoniyi a red card before the incident went to review.
“What makes this one stranger is the referee did not immediately reach for a red card. So you think, okay, they will have another look at it,” Shearer added.
“They have the benefit of different angles, slow motion, people watching it upstairs, plenty of time to decide whether Awoniyi has deliberately elbowed somebody. And after all that, somehow they come back with the most severe possible decision.”
Shearer argued that the central issue should have been whether Awoniyi deliberately attempted to strike De Cuyper rather than simply whether contact was made.
The dismissal has now left Coventry facing the consequences of losing one of their key attacking options at a difficult stage of their season.
Awoniyi is set to serve a three-match suspension, ruling him out of Coventry’s Carabao Cup meeting with Aston Villa as well as Premier League fixtures against his former club Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United.
The Nigerian striker will therefore have to watch from the sidelines as Lampard attempts to revive Coventry’s fortunes following a disastrous opening to their first Premier League campaign.
For Awoniyi, the backing from two of English football’s most respected former strikers offers some consolation after a decision that has continued to divide opinion.
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