absolutely baffling
Football League fans were shocked after one of the “most blatant red cards of the season” was overturned.
Doncaster Rovers' 2-2 draw with Gillingham on Saturday qualified them for the League Two play-offs, but their goalkeeper Timothy Lo-Tutala is expected to be absent.
When he burst out of the box and had the ball handed to him, he was shown a straight red card when his defender tried to head the ball back to him.
Rovers expected Lo Tutala to miss the first leg against Crewe Alexandra but opted to appeal.
Everyone thought the appeal would be laughed off, because you know it, but the EFL had other ideas.
An independent appeal concluded that Lo Tutara's red card should be overturned and the Hull City loanee can now feature in the first leg.
“We can confirm that the club has successfully appealed against Timothy Lo-Tutara's red card against Gillingham,” a statement from the fourth-tier side said.
It's the most blatant red card you've ever seen. How was it overturned? ! #drfc #crewealex https://t.co/sHgcbRhCss pic.twitter.com/PO1VwbbIDp
— Red Alex (@RedAlexCrewe) May 1, 2024
“Thiem will be available for Monday's play-off semi-final first leg at Crewe Alexandra.”
Looking back on the incident, some people couldn't believe the outcome of the appeal.
“This is the most blatant red card you've ever seen. How on earth was it overturned?!” one user wrote.
Another netizen commented: “Referees in this country are a joke, how can they be abolished?
“Overturned on what grounds? Blatant handball outside the box clearly knew what he was doing,” added a third.
However, according to EFL rules, although the goalkeeper clearly controlled the ball, there were three defensive players around him and the ball did not go in, which means that a yellow card should be the maximum penalty.
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