Hull City has received a significant reprieve following their 3-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, as the Football Association (FA) admitted to a refereeing error in the red card decision against Tyler Morton. The young England Under-21 international had been harshly sent off by referee Darren Bond only 35 minutes into the goalless match at Hillsborough for a challenge on Djeidi Gassama.
The controversial decision by Bond, who had previously sent off City’s Benjamin Tetteh in a match against Sheffield United a year ago, changed the course of the game. Morton, on loan from Liverpool, received a straight red card, leaving him devastated in the dressing room after the incident. The Tigers went on to lose the Yorkshire derby 3-1, with both head coach Liam Rosenior and club officials expressing dissatisfaction with Bond’s decision.
In response to the contentious red card, Hull City lodged an appeal with the FA on Tuesday. The appeal was reviewed by a three-person panel, and to the relief of the club, it was upheld. This means that Morton will not serve the expected three-game ban, providing a welcome boost for Hull City as they prepare for the upcoming FA Cup tie against Birmingham City. This development is particularly significant for Rosenior, who is already dealing with the absence of key players Jean-Michel Seri and Adama Traore, both of whom are participating in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Rosenior expressed his disappointment with the decision, emphasizing that while he understands the difficulty of the referee’s job, he believes Morton’s challenge did not warrant a red card. The head coach acknowledged that mistakes happen and indicated his intention to speak with Bond about the incident. He emphasized the frustration of the outcome impacting the team’s playing style and affecting the fans’ experience.
Overall, the FA’s admission of the refereeing error brings a sense of justice for Hull City and Tyler Morton, rescinding the red card and allowing the player to continue contributing to the team’s strong position in the league.
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