Anthony Gordon will miss the Carabao Cup final between Newcastle United and Liverpool after receiving a red card in Newcastle’s recent FA Cup match against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Newcastle manager, Eddie Howe, admitted he wasn’t aware that Gordon’s red card would keep him out of the final when it occurred on Sunday. During the match, Gordon was sent off by referee Anthony Taylor for pushing Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke in the face during a battle for the ball. The red card was considered violent conduct, and as a result, Gordon faces an automatic three-match suspension, although the decision could still be appealed.
Howe was initially unaware of the implications of the red card, saying, “To be honest, I wasn’t aware initially. My focus was so absorbed on the game and trying to win. If that is the case, then I’m desperately disappointed for him and for the team.”
Possible Appeal on the Horizon?
Gordon, who scored against Liverpool earlier in the season during a 3-3 draw in December, was expected to be in Newcastle’s starting lineup for the upcoming Carabao Cup final. When asked if the club would consider appealing the decision, Howe responded, “Of course. If we analyse the incident and feel there’s grounds for that, we will do without hesitation.”
Howe explained further, “I’d need to see it; I can’t sit here and give an honest opinion until I’ve looked at it. But knowing the player, I know there’s no malice intended there. He plays hard – I want him to play hard, I want him to be competitive, but I don’t see an issue there at this moment.”
The incident has drawn criticism, with former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson calling Gordon’s action ‘petulant.’ While Gordon didn’t appear to intentionally harm van Hecke, the deliberate push, especially to the face, could make it difficult for Newcastle’s appeal to succeed.
An example of a recent successful red card appeal came from Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly, whose red card against Wolves was overturned by an independent panel after being judged an incorrect decision.
Newcastle also faced concerns about the fitness of key players. Lewis Hall was unavailable for the Brighton match, and Alexander Isak’s fitness is still uncertain for the final. Isak was substituted in the Brighton match due to tightness, although Howe clarified, “Isak had some tightness in his body, but not an injury. The longer it went on, the greater the risk so he was taken off before any problems.”
