A former Premier League referee has admitted that Cardiff City defender Jack Simpson should have been sent off in the New Year’s Day meeting at Ewood Park.

The moment of controversy came on the half hour mark when Rovers midfielder Jake Garrett was caught in the midriff by the high boot of the Bluebirds defender.

The Rovers players were incensed by the challenge, though referee Tom Bramall chose only to issue a yellow card.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Garrett, himself booked early on, said after the game he felt that Simpson was ‘lucky’ to stay on the pitch after the challenge.

A new EFL initiative, 'Behind the Whistle', introduced by new PGMOL chief Howard Webb, will see decisions by EFL officials reviewed publicly after a completed round of matches.

Ex-referee Chris Foy will go through a selection of key match decisions from the action across the Championship, League One and League Two, to ‘give supporters an insight into the decision-making considerations and also clarification of certain decisions to provide an understanding of how the Laws of the Game are interpreted’.

On the Simpson incident, Foy said: “I think this is an example of a decision that required evidence from the different perspectives of the refereeing team – the referee, assistant referee and fourth official, given their differing viewing angles.  

“There is a genuine attempt to challenge for a bouncing ball, and the intensity of the challenge is probably mitigated by the low speed and degree of control.

“That being said, the point of contact is high with the leading foot on the upper thigh of the opposition player.

“With the player’s safety in mind, I believe the better outcome would have been the issuing of a red card for serious foul play.”

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