SHEFFIELD UNITED star Mason Holgate was sent off for a horror tackle on Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma.
The defender was initially shown a yellow card by referee Stuart Atwell before he consulted the VAR monitor and upgraded the punishment.
Mason Holgate is sent off for Sheffield United after just 10 minutes of play at Bramall Lane
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 18, 2024pic.twitter.com/DO31aRgvEG
Mitoma was taken out by Holgate after his heavy touch gave the defender a chance to win the ball.
But the Everton loanee lost control as he dived in on the winger, taking him out at knee height in the 12th minute.
He appeared to win the ball with his other foot but Atwell was left with no choice but to brandish a red due to the strength of the challenge.
Brighton players immediately began protesting as Mitoma writhed around in pain, and most inside Bramall Lane protested the booking.
So there was uproar when Atwell upped the punishment to a red a few moments later.
Sky Sports pundit called the tackle “scandalous”.
The former Liverpool and Tottenham ace also felt it was “one of the worst tackles I’ve seen in years.”
Things went from bad to worse for the Sheffield United faithful as Brighton opened the scoring from a corner they believe should have been given as a goal kick.
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Lewis Dunk headed back across goal from Pascal Gross’s corner and Facundo Buonanotte turned the ball home from close range, though it only just crossed the line and needed to ref to confirm on his watch that it was a goal.
Moments later Danny Welbeck doubled the visitors’ lead after he reacted quickest to smash in a rebound after Wes Foderingham denied Mitoma at the back post.
The Seagulls threatened to add a third soon after with Welbeck and Gross going close with chances from inside the box.
Sheffield United have now had four red cards in the league this season and their defence continues to leak goals.