Tony Pulis has called for new rules to enable clubs to contest dismissals for two bookable offences after branding the existing system as “disgraceful”.
The West Bromwich Albion head coach said it was “absolutely shocking” that he has no recourse to challenge Claudio Yacob’s sending-off after the midfielder received a widely disputed second yellow card in the 80th minute of his team’s 2-0 defeat by Aston Villa.
“The biggest disappointment about this decision is that it’s two yellow cards and we can’t then appeal. I find that disgraceful,” he said. “It is absolutely shocking. You can get a red card and appeal but you can’t appeal on two yellow cards. I find it absolutely amazing.”
Pulis also expressed bemusement with Anthony Taylor’s decision to send off Jack Grealish, the Villa midfielder, for a second bookable offence for a perceived dive late in the game. Tim Sherwood, the Villa manager, felt that both dismissals had been “harsh”.
Asked if he would consider writing to the FA to call for a change to the rules, Pulis’s response suggested that he had little faith in the governing body. “You’re joking?” he said. Yet he was furious that his team had again been on the wrong end of a controversial decision at Villa Park, only four days after Alan Hutton, the Villa defender, escaped a red card for a studs-up challenge on Saido Berahino. Hutton was then involved in the stoppage-time penalty that Christian Benteke scored to win 2-1 in the Barclays Premier League.
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“Twice we’ve been here and we certainly didn’t need referees making those decisions,” Pulis said.