‘If that is a red card, the game is officially gone’: Jamie Redknapp insists Lucas Digne should NOT have been sent off in Everton’s defeat by Southampton… as he implores the Premier League to overturn the decision
- Everton defender Lucas Digne was sent off for a foul on Kyle Walker-Peters
- Digne caught the Southampton defender on the back of his foot with his studs
- The decision came as the Toffees their first Premier League game this season
- But Jamie Redknapp believes Digne should only have been shown a yellow card
Jamie Redknapp believes Lucas Digne was wrongfully dismissed in Everton‘s 2-0 defeat by Southampton and has called on the Premier League to reverse the decision.
Referee Kevin Friend brandished a straight red card to the Frenchman with 18 minutes remaining for a foul on Kyle Walker-Peters, as the last unbeaten record of the Premier League season was ended by the hosts.
The left-back caught Walker-Peters on the back of his foot with his studs as he hunted the former Tottenham man down, and despite his protests was sent for an early shower.
Jamie Redknapp says Lucas Digne (back) should not have seen red in Everton’s defeat by Southampton following his challenge on Kyle Walker-Peters (front)
Referee Kevin Friend sent off the French defender as Everton’s unbeaten run came to an end
However, speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Redknapp insisted the game would be ‘officially gone’ if the decision is not overturned, claiming Digne should only have been cautioned for the challenge.
‘When you play football, you run,’ Redknapp said. ‘And when running in certain areas you can stand on someone’s foot and it can look so much worse as he treads on his heel and they take a fall together.
‘It’s a yellow card and get on with the game! There isn’t one player who can say that is a red card. I disagree and I hope the authorities go look [at it], it’s not a red card, he’s cost his team because they played without him.
‘That needs to be overturned. If we get to the stage where that is a red card, the game is officially gone!’
The left-back caught Walker-Peters on the back of his foot with his studs while chasing him
But Redknapp believes a yellow card would have sufficed and called for it to be overturned
Former midfielder Kieron Dyer also believes the red card was ‘harsh’ and sympathises with the former Barcelona man because he did not show any intent.
‘He has tried the tactical foul first off and he rides the tackle,’ Dyer said.
‘I feel sorry for him because he gives up the chase and puts his hands up and he’s just clipped the back of his heels.
Digne’s sending off meant Everton finished a second successive league game with 10 men
‘I think it’s a very harsh sending off. When you see it in slow motion you can see why but there was no intent at all.’
Digne’s red card meant Carlo Ancelotti’s men finished a game with 10 men for the second successive game following Richarlison’s nasty challenge on Thiago Alcantara in the Merseyside derby.
Should the 27-year-old defender’s punishment not be overturned, he will miss the trips to Newcastle and Fulham as well as the visit of Manchester United.
James Ward-Prowse and Che Adams scored the goals for Southampton as they consigned Everton to their first defeat of the league season.
Brazil forward Richarlison was sent off in the Merseyside derby for a foul on Thiago Alcantara