Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Fabian Hurzeler claims Carlos Baleba was wrongly sent off in the 2-1 win at Bournemouth.
The midfielder received his marching orders from referee Stuart Attwell for a foul for a 59th-minute challenge on Milos Kerkez, deemed worthy of a second yellow card.
Baleba had already been booked in first-half injury time for grabbing Evanilson after losing possession to prevent a Bournemouth break.
Hurzeler is annoyed that the 20-year-old Cameroon prospect will miss Friday’s visit to the Amex Stadium by Southampton.
Hurzeler said: “It can’t be a second yellow card. It’s important to take the second yellow card back. Carlos is a very young player and he has wishes, he has needs.
“He didn’t make a mistake with the second yellow card, because it wasn’t a foul. The first was a clear yellow card, but the second was not. And he wants to play the next game. So, hopefully the referees will watch it again and take the second yellow card back.”
The Athletic has contacted the PGMOL to clarify whether — and under what circumstances — a yellow card can be rescinded.
Goals at the beginning of both halves by Joao Pedro and Kaoru Mitoma earned Hurzeler’s side their sixth win in 12 matches, lifting them to fifth in the table.
David Brooks pulled a goal back for Bournemouth in injury time and Antoine Semenyo struck the bar with the last kick of the match, leaving Hurzeler happier with the result than the performance.
He said: “We were not precise enough in some moments, which gave Bournemouth a lot of turnovers in our half. It’s not easy to defend them, because that is their biggest weapon.
“We defended quite well, especially with ten men. But we can play better football, we have to be honest.”
(Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)