Jamie Carragher believes referee Tony Harrington could have “managed the situation” better before receiving an unusual red card after Idrissa Gueye was sent off for punching a team-mate against Manchester United.
Gay was given his marching orders just 13 minutes into the game at Old Trafford after an altercation with Michael Keane. The Senegalese international appears to be unhappy with centre-half Keane after a breakdown in communication led to him giving up the ball in his own half, the Mirror reported.
After a heated exchange, the two faced off directly inside the penalty area, after which Gueye appeared to raise his right hand and slap Keane on the side of the face. When Gay touched Keane’s face, Harrington didn’t hesitate to show him a red card.
Former Everton manager Roberto Martinez also commented on the incident, saying: “No, I was very surprised, because we need intensity. We need intensity. The reaction here, there are a lot of bodies in the box.”
Giving his assessment of the incident, Mr Carragher told Sky Sports: “Sometimes I wonder if the referee could have a little more control over the situation? The actual ruling, as you said, is a bit like when we talk about tackles and excessive force, but here we’re talking about slaps.”
“Can you just get the two of us together and say, ‘Well, behave yourself,’ instead of saying, ‘That’s the rulebook, so I’m just going to do it. If you look at the rules, you’re actually giving the umpire a little out.'”
“Obviously, it’s a bit of a misunderstanding (Gueye is trying to play the ball to Keane and they’re blaming each other). It’s obviously a misunderstanding. Gueye is trying to play the ball, but that reaction here, that slap, that open hand.”
“We’ve talked about it a lot. I don’t think the referee has any other choice. The law is that an attack above the neck is a red card.”
