RALPH Hasenhuttl revealed Saints were planning to appeal against the decision to issue a red card to Jannik Vestergaard. The Dane was sent off early in tonight’s 1-1 draw with Leicester at St Mary’s for a sliding challenge on Jamie Vardy. And Hasenhuttl was unhappy with the decision made by referee Robert Jones and video assistant referee Jonathan Moss.
Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “The official explanation was the denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity. Vardy never had the ball and this was a pass back to the goalkeeper (Alex McCarthy). The goalkeeper was near the ball, he could pick it up. I think he would never get this ball, even if it doesn’t hit him in that moment so this explanation is simply wrong.”
Quizzed on if he feels Jones should have consulted the pitchside monitor,
Ralph Hasenhuttl added: “Jon Moss, the VAR, had seen it. He said it was a red card. But he (Vardy) never had the ball and this explanation of denying a clear goalscoring opportunity for me is an argument I cannot agree.”
Asked if he plans to appeal against the decision, which would see Vestergaard banned for next week’s trip to Liverpool,
Ralph Hasenhuttl replied: “Yes.”