Former referee Jeff Winter said he was surprised Dan Neil received a second yellow card in Middlesbrough’s 4-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday.
Dan Neil was sent off in Sunderland’s crushing defeat.
Even though the result appeared that Boro had an easy day, the fact was that it was a competitive game until Neil was controversially sent off in first-half stoppage time.
Neil was given a second booking just before halftime for dissent after receiving a first for a late tackle on Josh Coburn.
Naturally, this had a significant impact on the game, as Michael Carrick’s side demolished the hosts after the break, eventually running out comfortable winners.
However, the judgment was a watershed moment in the game, and Tony Mowbray, like everyone else associated with Sunderland, was dissatisfied with the outcome.
Jeff Winter weighs in on Dan Neil’s red card.
Winter, a former Premier League referee and Boro fan, also commented on the issue, telling The Cat’s North East breakfast show that he was astonished by Gillett’s choice.
“I’ll be honest, it left me scratching my head because if the Sunderland player used foul and abusive language and it was that bad, it’s a straight red card, with a second yellow for dissent, we presume.” What we don’t know, and I’m not defending the referee, is whether he has been in continual struggle and has been given a final warning.
“That’s the only way I can explain it.” To send a player off in a football game, you must be able to sell it. You don’t want a stupid one for dissent. I’d like to think that in those circumstances, with the choice language we had back then when we were refereeing, I would have told him flat out that was it.
“However, sending someone off for dissent as a second yellow card… the rules of the game support the referee, but I think you lose some credibility.” Nobody is protesting if he takes a Boro player out at the knee, but for dissent, it simply didn’t sit well with me. Because I am a Middlesbrough fan, the argument has a little more weight, so it is an odd one. “I don’t think anyone on the ground or watching on television saw that coming.”
Was this the right choice?
As Winter points out, this was a curious one, and it’s difficult to state with certainty that Gillett was incorrect because we don’t know what was spoken.
However, the ref has a history of doing so, having sent out Mario Lemina for Wolves last season for alleged dissent despite replays showing he didn’t do much at all.
It’s unusual for a player to be sent out for this in today’s game, but as previously stated, we don’t know what was said. But Neil will be upset, and it’s evident that it had a significant impact on the outcome.
But it’s happened now, and Sunderland’s focus will be on bouncing back after the international break.
