The Premier League have confirmed Joao Pedro’s sending off for violent conduct was correct. The Brighton star was shown a straight red card for an off the ball incident with Nathan Collins, which left the Brentford man sprawled on the ground.
The duo were tangling over a long ball, with Collins having won the tussle and kicked it away. In a moment of frustration, Pedro kicked out at Collins, with the defender left clutching his face.
Referee Tim Robinson took his time before then brandishing a straight red card. Before Pedro walked down the tunnel, the decision was checked by VAR James Bell.
After a short look, with replays appearing to be inconclusive, Bell confirmed Robinson’s decision as being correct. And the Premier League have now backed up the call from their officials.
A statement read: “The referee’s call of red card to João Pedro was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the actions deemed as violent conduct.”
Despite the replays only being from long distance, former Liverpool star Stephen Warnock insisted the red card was correct. Warnock also hit out at Pedro, branding the attacker ‘silly’.
Warnock told Final Score: “It was silly from Joao Pedro but this is not the first time we have seen that from him this season. He has got previous.
“It looks like the arms come up into an area and you think, why are you doing that? Completely off the ball. From what we saw initially I think it is a red card.”
Pedro’s sending off came during what was a thrilling clash at the Gtech Community Stadium. Brentford went ahead just nine minutes in when Keane Lewis-Potter carved out a lovely ball forward for Bryan Mbeumo to run in behind, before the Cameroonian powered the ball into the bottom left corner.
Danny Welbeck equalised in the third minute of first-half stoppage time when Mats Wieffer crossed in from the right. Welbeck somehow manageed to flick a header past Mark Flekken at the left post as he fell.
Mbeumo put the hosts back in front three minutes into the second period when a poor goal kick gifted the Bees possession, with Yoane Wissa being played in before finding his team-mate on the right edge of the box. Back on his left, the Cameroonian fired at goal, with the shot glancing off Dunk and into the net.
Having scored two, Mbeumo then turned provider after a long ball released him down the right. The forward slid the ball across for Wissa who smashed off, again with the help of Dunk.
Following Pedro’s red card, Brighton boss Fabian Hürzeler faced chants of ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ from his own fans. They were able to make it a nervy finish for the Bees when Kaoru Mitoma slotted past Flekken nine minutes from time but Christian Thers Nørgaard made things safe with a last-gasp header.
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