By the letter of the law, Lee Probert was right to caution Demarai Gray for removing his shirt.
The laws of the game are clear in that if a player takes off his shirt or lifts it over his head when celebrating a goal, he should be automatically shown a yellow card.
Probert will have been in dialogue with the PGMOL — the body responsible for match officials — during the last week and agreed on a procedure on how best to handle the sensitive nature of this match.
He will have also raised this issue when he addressed the captains and managers an hour before kick-off.
Leicester manager Claude Puel accepted Probert's decision, saying after the game that he expected the referee to be as professional as his players.
It was a difficult situation for any referee to find themselves in. You are open to criticism whichever decision you take.
While Probert was correct to apply the law, I feel that in exceptional circumstances such as this referees should be able to manage situations and use some common sense.
Arrow007
1
imagine if he has already been booked before..even more harder decision
Arrow007
1
thank God it didn't cost them an upset .
Williamskeller
0
The referee was absolutrly right to do so. Gray was out of order and had cleared planned the demonstration.
fazeza
0
Please, let's not blame the referee. He was professional throughout the match, watched by many of us who usually don't watch Leicester City. He only applied the rule and I don't think that should be changed. Otherwise, next time a player's pet FOWL dies at home he's going to take off the shirt to reveal a sorrowful inscription. Leicester, we are with you in this moment. You're my team for the rest of the season.
keduo
0
Disagree. The referee is there to implement the LOTG and he was correct to book him, harsh as it seems. When Gray took his shirt off, look at the ref's expression, he winced because he knew he had to book him. However, what should happen now is that the FA should exercise their discretion and rescind the booking.