Wigan Athletic FC

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Bruce calls for rule change

17 Nov 2008 - 16:17:28

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Wigan Athletic boss Steve Bruce has called for a rule change following Emmerson Boyce's dismissal against Newcastle United on Saturday.

Boyce was sent off by referee Andre Marriner early in the second half at St James' Park after picking up his second booking in a game that finished 2-2.

Television replays clearly showed the defender won the ball cleanly off Magpies striker Shola Ameobi, but Bruce is unable to contest the automatic one-match ban as clubs can only appeal straight red cards and not two bookings.

Boyce will now miss next weekend's visit of Everton to the annoyance of Bruce.

"I would like to thank Mr Mariner for taking the time to look at Saturday's decision and I admire him for admitting that he made an error," Bruce told the club's official website.

"But what good does it do us?

"When Emmerson was sent off we were comfortably in the lead and I honestly believe that we would have gone on to win the game.

"But instead we have to play the last 35 minutes with ten men against Newcastle at St James' Park and now Boycey will also miss next week's game against Everton.

"The rules are ridiculous, referees have a really difficult job and it's far too often that we are talking about them after games.

"In the time it took for Boycey to be sent off a fourth official or someone in the stands could have watched the replay from different angles and a judgement made from there and relayed to the referee.

"I don't believe this takes any authority away from the referee but on the contrary, it empowers him to be confident that the correct decision has been made.

"Obviously I am only talking about major decisions: penalties, balls crossing the goal-line and sending-offs.

"The biggest problem and what I find most frustrating is that we have no right to appeal."