Exclusive: Mark Clattenburg Issues Honest Verdict on Ezri Konsa’s Red Card During Aston Villa vs Newcastle
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Ezri Konsa’s red card during Aston Villa’s clash with Newcastle United. The Villa defender was dismissed after a last-man challenge that halted a clear goalscoring opportunity, sparking heated debate among fans and pundits. Clattenburg, speaking exclusively after the match, admitted the incident was “a textbook example” of a difficult call for officials, given the pace and angle of the challenge.
Clattenburg explained that while Konsa did not appear to make malicious contact, the laws of the game are clear when it comes to denying an obvious goalscoring chance. “It doesn’t matter if it’s cynical or clumsy,” he said. “If the forward is through on goal and the defender prevents that illegally, the referee has little choice but to show red.” He also acknowledged that Villa supporters will feel hard done by, given Konsa’s reputation as a clean and composed defender.
Despite the uproar, Clattenburg stood firm that the referee followed protocol correctly, stressing that VAR’s check only reinforced the decision. However, he also sympathized with the wider debate about whether such moments should automatically result in a red card, hinting that football’s lawmakers could revisit the rules in the future. “It’s one of those decisions that feels harsh, but by the letter of the law, it’s the right call,” he concluded.
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