Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes Saints defender Jan Bednarek “definitely shouldn’t have been sent off” in last night’s contest at Old Trafford. With Saints already down to 10 men following an early red card for Alex Jankewitz and the score standing at 6-0, referee Mike Dean dismissed Bednarek after he was deemed to have brought down Anthony Martial in the penalty area. After a lengthy consultation with video assistant referee Graham Scott, as well as going over to check the pitchside monitor himself, Dean upheld his decision to award a spot-kick, despite there appearing to be minimal contact.
Man Utd went on to win 9-0. It was the second red card shown for a similar incident in the Premier League on Tuesday, with Arsenal’s David Luiz also dismissed as the Gunners lost at Wolves. Asked for his take on the Bednarek red card,
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: “Funnily enough, I had a discussion with the referees before the game. I just asked them before the game what they thought about the David Luiz sending off because I don’t think he should’ve been sent off either and Bednarek definitely shouldn’t have been sent off. I think the law needs to be looked at, but the letter of the law, if you foul someone, deny a goalscoring opportunity and you don’t attempt the ball, you’ve got to be shown a red card. There was contact there, but he shouldn’t be sent off. I think everyone in football agrees on this.”
Discussing the same incident,
Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “In such a moment you think they (the officials) should have a feeling for the situation, that we are punished enough. But if you want to send a mark then do it in this moment, if you think you must settle the game then do it. Anyway, it is not important.”
