Major League Soccer side Columbus Crew has lost their appeal to overturn the red card of defender Lalas Abubakar.
The defender was red carded in the midweek clash against the Philadelphia Union where Crew lost 3-0.
Columbus crew manager Gregg Berhalter was furious with the refereeing decision at the end of the game.
“You could make the case that (referee Ismail Elfath) interpreted that way because there was contact to the head are, but I think there could be a better job of understanding the situation, understanding the play and the context, right?” Berhalter said via phone Friday.
''He could see Lalas got fouled first. He called the foul. He knows that. Then he can see (Ilsinho), they’re winning the game and he wants to delay it even more, preventing us from playing quickly.
''Because of all that, then you just use a little common sense. And I don’t think he did that all. I think it was a snap judgement. I think the fourth official and the AR were there, they had a good view of it and I don’t think there was enough support on that play to make the right decision.''
Berhalter maintained that he though neither play – the other was Mensah’s takedown of C.J. Sapong in the first half that was ruled denial of obvious goal scoring opportunity – deserved a red card, but he decided to appeal Abubakar’s because of what he perceived to be the origin of the play.
''In my opinion it’s not a red card, but I’m not a referee. I think the whole play happened where the player fouls Lalas then prohibits him from getting the ball and Lalas is just trying to get him out of the way,” Berhalter said. “Maybe because of the (Ilsinho’s) height he comes around his head and neck, but it wasn’t a strike. It wasn’t a violent strike. It wasn’t any of that.''
Abuakar was frustrated after the game, but said he could take the red card as a learning experience.
He is by nature an aggressive player, and different referees might perceive that aggression differently.
Berhalter agreed with Abubakar’s assessment and added his learning from the game should take place beyond just the red card play.
''I think that whole game is a learning opportunity for Lalas. I think there’s a number of plays where he felt he could have done better and that’s why he’s a young player and that’s why he’s learning,'' Berhalter said.
''To me he’s been doing a good job since he’s been playing and as long as he can learn from this he’ll be fine.''
Without Mensah and Abubakar, Nicolai Naess, Josh Williams and Alex Crognale will be the Crew’s three center back options for Saturday.