Tony Pulis calls for new rule in football after Daniel Farke red card for Leeds United
Decorated ex-Manager Tony Pulis believes Daniel Farke’s red card against Man City was harsh, and has proposed a new officiating method to help prevent his frustrations.
Leeds were beaten 1-0 by Man City in the Premier League at Elland Road on 28 February, with Antoine Semenyo’s goal in added time at the end of the first half making all the difference.
Farke‘s side were still able to carve out 14 shots against Pep Guardiola’s City on the night, and made a big late push to try and snatch an equaliser in the final minutes of the game.
Six minutes of stoppage time were added in which City were able to see home their three points, but after the full-time whistle blew, referee Peter Bankes showed Farke a red card for his angry protests over his questioning of the officials’ time-keeping.
Why Tony Pulis sympathised with Daniel Farke’s Man City red card
With Leeds scrapping for every single point amid their ongoing relegation battle this season, Farke clearly felt more time should’ve been afforded for his side to try and get something at the end of that game.
However, whatever was said and the levels of his protests evidently crossed the line in the eyes of Bankes, and Farke was shown a red card.
For as long as the Premier League has existed, there has always been a narrative and school of thought shared by some, that big clubs get more decisions in their favour than so-called smaller ones.
And, speaking in his BBC Sport column, former Premier League manager Pulis revealed he always shared that belief, and explained why he felt sympathetic towards Farke for being sent off against City.
“Leeds boss Daniel Farke was sent off for questioning the referee’s time-keeping at the end of Leeds’ 1-0 defeat by Manchester City,” Pulis began.
“I felt for him – for years and years, the managers of the so-called smaller Premier League clubs have had an inward belief that the top teams tend to get more decisions go their way than they do. I certainly did!
“The time being added on at the end of a game is getting longer and longer, with both teams often complaining about the rationale of the referee’s decision.”
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Pulis proposes rule change to prevent future Farke situations
Waiting in anticipation to see how much time the fourth official will show in his board is one of the great football fan traditions at every game.
It’s a thankless task for the fourth official too, as if your team is winning, anything but no added time whatsoever is met with groans of: ‘how much?’.
On the flip side, if your side is chasing an equaliser such as Leeds were against City, the number shown on the board is almost always greeted with: ‘how on earth have they only added x amount of minutes on?’.
But, Pulis believes he’s got an idea that would put an end to this, and help shield managers such as Farke from getting themselves sent off due to disagreements over how much stoppage time was played.
“I have always believed that every game should have a time-keeper working in unison with the referee, and showing everyone in the stadium, including supporters, when the clock is stopped and restarted,” Pulis continued.
“Rugby union uses this method, and it works so well. With stoppages, like the types we see in football when injured goalkeepers go down, or for substitutions and any other significant breaks, we can see the clock stop and start by the referee’s signal, but the time-keeper is overseeing it all.
“Referees have enough on their plates today dealing with the ghosts of Stockley Park and their video assistant referees (VAR), let alone guessing what time to add on.”
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