Robbo: Wolves’ reaction pushed ref to red card
BIRMINGHAM City defender Paul Robinson believes he was sent off in the derby at Molineux because officials were swayed by the Wolves players’ reaction to an incident with Jon Dadi Bodvarsson.
Robinson was dismissed by referee Steve Martin in the 53rd minute of Friday night’s 2-1 victory at Molineux after a heavy – but legal – tackle on the Iceland international.
As he regained his feet, Robinson appeared to push off Bodvarsson which the referee felt was violent conduct and as a result Blues had to see out the rest of a vital match with ten men.
Thankfully that red card – which would have meant a three-match ban – has since been rescinded and Robinson will be available to play Leeds United on Friday night at St Andrew’s.
Which, according old, should always case.
“At the time it was a ridiculous decision, the linesman was pushed into it by their players with the way they surrounded him,” Robinson said.
“For me there was nothing in was a good, hard, solid tackle.
“He had his arm around my neck. I pushed him off – as simple as that. Never once was it a fist or was there any malice in trying to harm him.
“It was just one of those ‘Get off me, because you are lying on my leg’ situations.
“We saw that in the clips. The linesman flagged for a throw-in, the referee gave the throw-in and then all of a sudden the players charged towards the linesman as if a brawl is going to start.
“They have got to take some of the blame for that because of the way they acted. Hopefully I can concentrate on my football again.”
After making an appeal to the FA for a wrongful dismissal, the Independent Regulatory Commission upheld Blues’ case on Tuesday.
Referee Martin has shown to the 38-yearhave been the it, it three red cards this season and have now been rescinded.
He sent off Newcastle pair Jonjo Shelvey and Paul Dummett in a game at Nottingham Forest on December 2, but both dismissals were subsequently overturned.
Robinson’s vindication will be of some relief to Blues manager Gianfranco Zola who could still be with- all three out Jonathan Grounds game.
Krystian Bielik came off the bench and played a big part in a stout rearguard action at Molineux and may have done enough to earn a starting spot on Friday night against Leeds.
Robinson started last Friday’s derby match as captain, in the absence of Michael Morrison. The for the next armband passed to Ryan Shotton following his dismissal. The red card could have had serious implications for Blues who led 2-0 at the time but ended up conceding one goal as they came under mounting pressure.
They eventually held on to give Zola just his second win in 15 games in charge.