Premier League release statement after Brighton star Joao Pedro incredibly ESCAPES a red card after vicious elbow throw which missed opponent by inches
- Joao Pedro was lucky not to be sent off in Brighton’s 0-0 draw against Brentford
- Pedro escaped red after trying to elbow Yehor Yarmoliuk in the face
- LISTEN NOW: It all starts! New formation, some new faces, but the optimism is gone at Old Trafford
Joao Pedro was lucky not to be sent off after he tried to elbow Yehor Yarmoliuk in the face but failed to make contact as Brighton’s agony continued in a goalless draw against Brentford in December.
Thomas Frank was convinced the Brighton striker should have been shown a red card, saying: ‘Yes (he was lucky to stay on) – as I understand in the rules you can’t wave your arms and try to hit someone. Whether you hit them or not, it’s a red card.’
But Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler disagreed with Frank’s position, saying it was an ‘interesting opinion’ and that he looked at it ‘completely differently’.
“For me it’s not a red card,” Hurzeler said. “He (Pedro) tried to free himself from a personal duel.”
The incident happened in the 75th minute in front of referee Andy Madley and after a lengthy stoppage to check for a possible red card, VAR’s Chris Kavanagh ruled Madley’s call was not a clear foul, despite replays showing Pedro lashing out at the Brentford. midfielder.
Yarmoliuk had dragged Pedro back to stop a Brighton counter and the Ukrainian was shown a yellow card for the foul, but Pedro escaped punishment for his actions, with Kavanagh ruling that there was no violent conduct as he did not make contact .
Joao Pedro was lucky not to be sent off after trying to elbow Yehor Yarmoliuk
Referee Andy Madley ruled there was no violent conduct after Yarmoliuk dragged Pedro back to stop a Brighton attack
Pedro didn’t even get a yellow card for his actions, while Yarmoliuk was booked for dragging him back
It was almost the only topic of conversation on an evening in which Hurzeler’s side squandered a host of chances with no fewer than 24 attempts. They have now gone six games without a win.
Since their last win on November 23, the Seagulls have fallen from second to tenth place.
This should have been the ideal match for them against a Brentford side who went into this match on the south coast with just one point on the road all season.
Brighton were wasteful from the start, with Julio Enciso having eight attempts on goal in the first half alone – the last Premier League player to do so was Luis Suarez in 2013.
The 20-year-old’s evening was summed up by a shot that almost went out for a throw-in. His last goal, which won the Premier League Goal of the Season, came in May 2023.
In the 36th minute, Brentford keeper Mark Flokken was forced off with a hamstring injury and replaced by Hakon Valdimarsson, who was making his Premier League debut.
Fleks made six saves in a busy first half and his Icelandic replacement was equal to the task for the remainder of the game.
Yoane Wissa thought he scored the game opener, but it was disallowed for offside
Enciso continued to find himself in dangerous positions for The Seagulls in the second half, although he lacked composure in front of goal
As Brighton failed to make their dominance count, Hurzeler’s frustration on the touchline grew in the second half. He made a three-way substitution in the 66th minute before replacing Enciso with Georginio Rutter in the 78th minute, but to no avail.
In the closing stages, Hurzeler turned to Solly March, who came on for the first time since tearing his cruciate ligament in October 2023, and the 30-year-old got the biggest reception of the evening, but there was no time for a festive miracle. as his last gasp flew by.
For the traveling Brentford fans, however, it was a belated Christmas present in the form of a rare point on the road. A point that Frank described as a ‘fair’ result.