Shearer defends Awoniyi after Brighton red

Premier League legend Alan Shearer has defended Taiwo Awoniyi after the Nigerian striker was sent off during Coventry City’s 5-0 defeat to Brighton at the CBS Arena on Sunday, questioning the decision to show him a straight red card, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Awoniyi was dismissed in the second half for a flailing elbow on Brighton defender Maxim de Cuyper as Coventry suffered their fourth successive defeat without scoring a goal this season.

Shearer argued that the contact appeared to come as both players competed for the ball and questioned whether it was sufficient to constitute violent conduct.

“I’ve watched it a few times and I’m still trying to understand what Awoniyi is supposed to have done differently. Two players are competing for the ball. He jumps, his arm comes up naturally and catches De Cuyper. There’s contact. Nobody is denying that.

“But contact with somebody’s face cannot automatically mean violent conduct,” Shearer said.

The former England striker also questioned why the referee did not immediately show Awoniyi a red card before the incident was reviewed, arguing that the VAR process should have provided officials with sufficient time and angles to determine whether the Nigerian had deliberately elbowed his opponent.

“What makes this one stranger is the referee didn’t immediately reach for a red card. So you think, okay, they’ll have another look at it.

“They have the benefit of different angles, slow motion, people watching it upstairs, plenty of time to decide whether Awoniyi has deliberately elbowed somebody.

• EPL: Ref body admits error over Haaland winner against Man United
• FULL LIST: Top 10 scorers in Manchester derby history
• Haaland fires 10-man Man City to memorable win over Man Utd

“And after all that, somehow they come back with the most severe possible decision. That’s the bit I don’t understand,” he added.

Shearer maintained that the decision against Awoniyi would have been understandable if the striker had deliberately swung his elbow at De Cuyper.

“If Awoniyi looks at him and throws an elbow, send him off. Nobody complains. But if we’re sending strikers off every time their arm catches somebody while they’re challenging for a ball, somebody needs to tell them what they’re supposed to do with their arms,” he said.

Awoniyi’s dismissal came after Brighton had doubled their lead through Malick Yalcouye, leaving Coventry with 10 men before Bobby Thomas conceded a penalty that Pascal Gross converted in the 70th minute.

Lewis Dunk added a fourth for Brighton with an emphatic 20-yard finish before Yasin Ayari completed the rout in stoppage time.

The defeat leaves Coventry bottom of the Premier League table after four games, having lost all four without scoring.

Awoniyi now faces a three-game ban – the standard length for violent conduct – meaning he’s set to miss Coventry’s trip to his former side Nottingham Forest next Saturday, as well as Tuesday’s Carabao Cup third-round clash with Aston Villa and the Premier League meeting with Newcastle after the international break.