Tuesday night’s clash between Charlton and Peterborough ended in a 0-0 draw. However during the stalemate behind was a controversial incident which has left Dean Holden defending Jesun Rak-Sakyi despite seeing Posh’s Josh Knight sent off after the altercation.
The clash between the two players hs received backlash by some fans on social media after Knight was sent to march down the tunnel, while Rak-Sakyi was only given a yellow card.
The skirmish in the 54th minute started when the Addicks were on the counter-attack. While on the break, Knight is seen to make an attempt for the ball but misses his tackle and in a tangle, both players fall to the floor with Knight landing on-top of Ray-Sakyi.
With both players getting up from the incident, the former Chelsea youth player is visibly frustrated and seems to swing a punch towards the Posh defender.
Knight goes down holding his face however, after assessing the situation, referee Andrew Kitchen decided on a red card for Knight and just the yellow for Ray-Sakyi.
Despite the man advantage Charlton were unable to change the outcome of the game, while manager Dean Holden defended his player.
Speaking after the game Holden said: “I’ve only seen the one angle. I didn’t see it. I’m not giving it the Arsene Wenger, I didn’t see it at the time.”
“The fourth official told me quite early it was going to be a red and a yellow for Jes.”
“I’ve seen it back on one angle. Jes has told me he just shrugged him off him. It looked like he swung something, but Jes is saying he swung a forearm to push him away from him. He’s gone on the floor, four days after the weekend where he nearly got his leg broken, and he’s been stamped on.”
“Of course we want our players to play by the rules at all times but I think sometimes in the heat of the moment, you’ve been stamped on like that, it’s very, very difficult. I was glad that the referee gave the red card, I think it was the right decision.”
Writer’s View
With no affiliation to either of these teams and with my neutral hat on, I feel the referee got this one wrong.
On replay, there seems to only be the one angle of the incident and at certain points it’s hard to make out what actually happens. Holden insists Ray-Sakyi was acting out of defence, but I personally don’t see it that way.
Knight’s challenge was a bit rash, but it’s hard to make out if his tackle did in fact stamp on Ray-Sakyi. If that was the case then it probably should be a red, but more of my problem is with the decision on Ray-Sakyi.
I understand in the heat of the moment it’s hard not to retaliate, but the Charlton man clearly did. Holden explained that the swing thrown was to push Knight off, however Ray-Sakyi was standing over Knight and moved toward him. I do gather where Ray-Sakyi’s actions are coming from, but you can’t go throwing a punch in retaliation and I believe he should have also seen a sending off.
