Referee Kevin Friend, who virtually handed the game to Stoke City last weekend by sending off Wes Brown, will be on fourth official duty for the next couple of weeks.
Friend sent off Brown after he put in what looked to be a fair tackle on Stoke’s Charlie Adam at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday and the Potters went on to win the game.
Of course the club have appealed against the decision, but at the time of the sending off, it looked like the Black Cats could have got something from the game, the decision also left boss Gus Poyet livid and demanding an apology from referee’s chief Mike Riley.
Now Friend will not be refereeing this weekend and the weekend after, whether he will be dropped for any other games remains to be seen.
Former official Dermot Gallagher said: ‘The referee has lost concentration or not seen it. It’s not a red card. Brown’s gone in hard but he’s entitled to.
‘As a refereeing body you have to take that smack on the chin.’
VITAL STOKE CITY
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Should be dropped for good, its not the first time with this clown.