Graeme Souness reacts to ‘huge’ Richarlison controversy in Everton v Brentford as footage emerges
Graeme Souness agrees that Jarrad Branthwaite’s red card was right to stand in the first half of Everton versus Brentford at Goodison Park on Sunday (15 May).
Branthwaite, 19, was shown a straight red card by Michael Oliver after denying a clear goalscoring opportunity for Brentford striker Ivan Toney.
However, replays show that ahead of that incident, Richarlison clearly had his shirt pulled by Kristoffer Ajer in the penalty area at the other end of the pitch.
Despite Ajer almost undressing Richarlison, Souness felt as though it wasn’t a foul and says it was correct for Branthwaite to be sent off.
When asked if it was a foul on Richarlison on Sky Sports Main Event (15 May, 05:25pm), Souness said: “It was a bit of both, I think.”
Souness then reacted to the incident that saw Branthwaite red-carded. He said: “Branthwaite just has to let him go because he’s just got the wrong side of him. He has to let him go because he risks everything and that’s exactly what panned out. It cost him a red card.”
Sky Sports host David Jones then went on to call it a “huge, disappointing moment” for the 19-year-old.
Easily a penalty
How on earth Souness, Oliver and VAR think that wasn’t a penalty is baffling.
If Ajer had a handful of anyone’s shirt anywhere else on the pitch, it would have been a free-kick and most likely a yellow card.
But just because it was in the penalty area, it seems that rules are applied differently.
Should it have been a penalty?
Yes.
And if that was a penalty that Branthwaite’s red card would have been wiped because it should’ve have happened.
Everton did eventually get a penalty later on for another foul on Richarlison, who then brushed himself off to score and put the Blues ahead.
But that doesn’t make up for going a player down in the first half and Branthwaite will now, unjustifiably, be suspended for the next game, which is against Crystal Palace on Thursday (19 May).
Branthwaite was making just his third Premier League start of the season for Everton so it’s a shame it ended the way it did.
We hope that he bounces back because he’s a good young player.
It was a red card offence – and he’ll learn from it – but it shouldn’t have stood due to the foul on Richarlison.
In other Everton news, Jeff Stelling was interrupted by a Sky Sports pundit who wanted to make a point about Evertonians on Sky Sports News.
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