Former Premier League referee and Sky Sports pundits' verdict on key red card call in Portsmouth’s defeat to Southampton
The key decision took place in the 53rd minute of Sunday’s south-coast derby between Pompey and Southampton.
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes Finn Azaz’s nasty challenge on Ebou Adams was ‘worse than it is’.
But Sky Sports pundits Jay Bothroyd and ex-Pompey midfielder Tim Sherwood felt the Southampton man was lucky to avoid a dismissal early in the second half.
The key incident came just eight minutes after the break, with Tonda Eckert’s side already a man down following Cameron Bragg’s sending off on 44 minutes.
After Azaz failed to win a free kick following a tackle by Adams, the midfielder quickly reacted and flew into a challenge on the Pompey favourite.
But referee Adam Herczeg only brandished a yellow card for the Republic of Ireland international, much to the frustration of John Mousinho who blasted the decision after the defeat.
However, Gallagher, who officiated more than 200 top-flight matches during his career, insisted the man in the middle at St Mary’s made the correct call not to send Southampton down to nine men.
Sky Sports pundits verdict on key red card call in Southampton v Pompey
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, he said: I actually think this looks worse than it is. I don’t think the referee sees it anyhow because the player comes across him.
‘If you see it, Azaz has actually caught him with his shin, he doesn’t catch him with his studs at all.
‘He goes through and he doesn’t catch him with his studs, just his shin.’
However, Sherwood, who joined Gallagher on the panel, believes there was ‘intent’ from Azaz having failed to win a free kick just moments before.
When asked whether it should’ve been a red card, the former Pompey midfielder replied: ‘Possibly’.
‘It’s always a red flag whenever a centre forward goes down and jumps up quickly because referees are like hold on something’s going to happen here. And he (Azaz) has straight legged him and not made contact.
‘But the one mistake he makes, Finn Azaz, is that when the Pompey player comes towards him, he turns his back, he should've let him hit him straight in the face and it would’ve been even!
‘The intent is there.’
Meanwhile, former Cardiff City and Wolves striker Bothroyd, felt Azaz was lucky to escape serious punishment.
He added: ‘If he definitely catches him on the leg like that, it definitely would’ve been (a red card).
‘The thing that saves him is that he hasn't actually caught him, I think he’s just glanced him.
‘But again, I think that situation before when you think it’s a foul on you and then you get up and are upset and you then straight away fly at the next person (it’s not a good look).’
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