Thomas Bramall named Carabao Cup final fourth official after Leeds Gabriel Gudmundsson red card | OneFootball

Thomas Bramall, the referee at the centre of several disputed calls in Leeds United’s 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace, has been appointed fourth official for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final between Manchester City and Arsenal.

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, Bramall’s most debated decision was sending off Gabriel Gudmundsson for two bookings, with the second caution viewed as soft.

Gudmundsson and Ismaila Sarr collided near halfway and Bramall swiftly produced another yellow, after which Palace players and fourth official Paul Tierney highlighted that the defender had already been booked.

He then opted against showing a second yellow to Palace wing-back Brennan Johnson after a foul on James Justin that stopped a counter-attack, Johnson’s fourth infringement. Bramall did award Leeds a penalty for a Will Hughes handball, and an assistant correctly ruled out a Jefferson Lerma goal for offside.

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has said the Gudmundsson dismissal was correct and that Johnson should have remained on the pitch. Others disagreed, while Daniel Farke criticised the inconsistency, arguing Gudmundsson’s challenge lacked pace and was not tactical, adding the sending off influenced the game and he was relieved to take a point.

Bramall is set to work alongside referee Peter Bankes, assistants Neil Davies and Steve Meredith, and VAR John Brooks. As standard procedure, the group have been removed from domestic league duties for the weekend.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk