Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has offered a detailed explanation in defence of the decision not to send off Antoine Semenyo during Bournemouth’s dramatic 4-4 draw with Manchester United, amid widespread debate over the incident at Old Trafford.
Semenyo was shown a yellow card after raising his hand towards United defender Diogo Dalot following a foul, a moment that sparked strong reactions from sections of the home support.
Comparisons were quickly drawn with previous incidents where similar actions resulted in red cards.
Clattenburg, however, believes the referee made the correct judgement based on the nature of the contact.
"Antoine Semenyo was issued a yellow card for raising his hand to Diogo Dalot after a foul had been awarded," Clattenburg said.
"The yellow card was the correct decision as it was a brief touch and not a grasp to the throat, which could have had an element of malice."
He explained that intent and force are key factors officials consider in such situations.
"If that was the case, it could have upgraded the yellow card to a red card," he added.
Clattenburg’s assessment aligns with views expressed by other analysts, who noted that while Semenyo took a risk, the contact lacked the severity required for dismissal.
Send your news stories to [email protected] and via WhatsApp on +233 546310076.
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS