Tomas Soucek was controversially sent off late in West Ham’s 0-0 London derby draw with Fulham.
The Czech Republic midfielder was lining up to attack a free kick on the edge of the Fulham box when he tangled with Cottagers striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Referee Mike Dean was then summoned to the touchline by the VAR and, after reviewing the incident, sent Soucek off.
*Why was Tomas Soucek sent off?*
Soucek was trying to create space that was being denied to him by Mitrovic, and in a bid to get a yard of clearance he caught the Fulham man with his arm.
There did not look to be any intent. It appeared to be a case of Soucek keeping the Fulham forward clear of him, but Dean was given instruction to review the incident
Dean took some time before returning to the pitch and brandishing a red card to the bewildered West Ham man.
*Will Soucek’s red card be overturned?*
It seems almost certain that West Ham will lodge an appeal over the red card.
For VAR, it is another moment in the spotlight that football’s governing bodies could do without. Slow motion replays tend to make things look worse than in real time, but even at half speed the incident seemed to be an accidental coming together of two players.
Should Soucek fail in any appeal, and a ban for violent conduct is confirmed, he will miss the trip to Manchester United in the FA Cup and Premier League games with Sheffield United and Tottenham.
Avant Sports Desk