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

Thomas Bramall will be fourth official for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final between Manchester City and Arsenal, days after his contentious display in Leeds United’s 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace. According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, the referee faced scrutiny for dismissing Gabriel Gudmundsson.

Bramall sent off the left-back for two bookings, the second after a collision with Ismaila Sarr on halfway. He quickly produced the card, seemingly forgetting Gudmundsson had already been cautioned, before Palace players and fourth official Paul Tierney intervened.

He later declined to show a second yellow to Brennan Johnson after bringing down James Justin to stop a counter-attack, which was Johnson’s fourth foul. Bramall also awarded Leeds a penalty for a Will Hughes handball, and an assistant correctly ruled out a Jefferson Lerma goal for offside.

Bramall forms part of the Wembley team with referee Peter Bankes, assistants Neil Davies and Steve Meredith and VAR John Brooks. As is standard, that group have been taken off domestic league appointments this weekend.

The Selhurst Park decisions have dominated the fallout. Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher argued Gudmundsson’s dismissal was right and that Johnson should have stayed on, though other pundits and ex-officials disagreed and Daniel Farke pointed to inconsistency.

Farke said the second booking lacked force or tactical intent and suggested the official forgot the first caution, turning it into a red to his own surprise. He contrasted that with Johnson’s more forceful tactical foul, stressed he was not calling for a dismissal there, and expressed relief at leaving with a point.

Jarred Gillett will referee Brentford’s visit to Elland Road on Saturday night, assisted by Simon Long and Nick Greenhalgh. Anthony Backhouse is fourth official and Matt Donohue will be on VAR.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk