Southampton boss Russell Martin has suggested that Newcastle United players would have ‘done the same’ as Ben Brereton Diaz following Fabian Schar’s ‘moment of madness’.
Schar was sent off in the 28th minute after a clash with Brereton Diaz that left players, staff and supporters furious at St James’ Park. Referee Craig Pawson had initially blown his whistle after Flynn Downes fouled Bruno Guimaraes, but Brereton Diaz nonetheless barged into Schar to send the defender flying.
Schar immediately leapt to his feet to shove Brereton Diaz before the pair squared up. The Newcastle defender lightly pushed his forehead into Brereton Diaz’s to leave the Chile international on the turf holding his face. Nick Pope, aghast, stuck out his arms while Dan Burn physically lifted the 6ft 1in Brereton Diaz up off the ground, but Pawson was already on his way to brandish a red card.
Stunned Newcastle players protested and Bruno Guimaraes repeatedly made a VAR gesture to Pawson but those officials watching on from afar did not overturn the decision. Eddie Howe branded the sending off ‘very soft’, but the Newcastle boss acknowledged that ‘you can’t give the referee the possibility to even give the red card’ and Martin felt Brereton Diaz was within his rights to react like he did.
“I just got asked there if Ben made a meal of it and all that stuff,” he told reporters. “He stands still and the guy leads with his head.
“You give someone an opportunity to make the most of it. I guarantee their players would have done the same. It’s a moment of madness from their player.
“I’m pretty sure the reason we have VAR is to overturn decisions if they’re wrong. They’ve seen it back on numerous occasions in slow motion and that stuff. So it has to be a red card, I guess.”
