Elbow was not a red card offence

TOMAS SOUCEK’S red card for an elbow on Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is obviously an incorrect decision. VAR Lee Mason has concentrated on the point of contact and not focused on the bigger picture. The point of contact shows Soucek’s elbow making contact. Mason will have recommended to referee Mike Dean a review based on what he has seen for possible violent conduct and instructed Dean to have a look at the incident in the referee review area. All Dean is seeing is Soucek’s elbow being raised. He has therefore decided that it’s a red card offence for violent conduct, but it should not be a red card.