Talk about jobsworth refereeing
Newcastle defender Jamal Lewis was shown a second yellow card for supposedly time-wasting during Northern Ireland’s World Cup Qualifier against Switzerland.
Referee Slavko Vinčić gave the full-back a second yellow in the 36th minute of Saturday’s World Cup qualifier in Geneva.
The 23-year-old received his first booking in the 23rd minute for tugging the shirt of Breel Embolo.
Slovenian referee Vinčić had previously spoken to Northern Ireland captain Paddy McNair about time wasting, however, just 17 seconds separated Lewis picking up the ball and the yellow card being shown.
Top, top jobsworth refereeing in the Northern Ireland game pic.twitter.com/Y19AMCRVkA
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) October 9, 2021
Neil Lennon, who was speaking on Sky Sports, suggested the decision to send the full-back off was “shambolic”.
“The first booking is lazy defending, and then you’re walking on a tightrope, I get it,” the former Celtic manager said. “But the second?”
“Watch the referee. He is pointing at Jamal, that’s fine. But he’s not saying ‘get a move on’.
“Now he starts walking over, blows the whistle and gives him a second yellow card.
“It’s shambolic. I have never seen a player get a second booking for time wasting after 36 minutes in any game of my life. It is an awful decision.”
Switzerland made their extra man count and took the lead in added time of the first half, with Embolo – who was involved in Lewis’ first booking – assisting Steven Zuber who finished past Bailey Peacock-Farrell in the Northern Ireland goal.
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