Mark Clattenburg has reportedly jumped to the defence of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall after the Everton star expressed his displeasure with officiating standards after receiving a “mind-boggling” booking against West Ham.
Dewsbury-Hall was given his fifth yellow card in six Premier League games on Monday night for a perfectly legal challenge on Kyle Walker-Peters despite getting to the ball first in a 50-50 before the Hammers full-back went down,
He was given another dubious yellow card in last week’s Merseyside derby for taking a free kick too hastily, and this latest warning means he will miss Sunday’s match against Crystal Palace.
“Forgive me if I’m wrong, and I might be, but some of these decisions are so hard to take. Mind boggling,” the 27-year-old posted on X.
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Clattenburg, a former Premier League referee, sympathizes with Dewsbury-Hall and acknowledges that his dissatisfaction is understandable, thus he does not hold him responsible for expressing his frustrations.
Clattenburg told TBR Football: “I can understand the referee’s judgment as Dewsbury-Hall goes into the tackle with some speed, catching his opponent on the foot after playing the ball.
Personally, I think the referee could have played on as he plays the ball and his foot accidentally hits his opponent’s foot in the follow-through.
“Dewsbury-Hall can be disappointed that he will get a one-match suspension for his fifth yellow card.
This disappointment was even made worse when, in the last week, he was given a yellow card late in the match against Liverpool for taking a quick free kick, which I believe the referee could have managed in a better way.
“You cannot appeal yellow cards, so you will miss this weekend’s match.”
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