Sheffield United defender Mason Holgate protested the decision to send him off for his tackle on Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma, after he lunged in with both fee on the Brighton winger. Former Barcelona winger Gerard Deulofeu did not appreciate Holgate’s actions.
The pair used to be teammates at Everton, but Deulofeu took to social media to voice his opinion that longer and harsher sanctions should befall tackles like Holgate’s. He was only shown a red card after a VAR review, having initially been booked, and protested the decision at the time. Deulofeu did not appreciate it.
⚠️ Imagen dura ⚠️
🫣 Entrada CRIMINAL de Holgate a Mitoma en el muslo, por encima de la rodilla.
🟥 Lo peor es que la roja la tuvo que sacar tras la intervención del VAR. Había sido ¡AMARILLA!
📽️ @DAZN_ESpic.twitter.com/FGPBSbZqHR
— BeSoccer (@besoccer_ES) February 18, 2024
Holgate should be Oscar nominated with his acting of complete bewilderment at this tackle being called for a foul, let alone a red card https://t.co/YW7v0lgNyN pic.twitter.com/Y6OE8OTRfz
— He Who Remains (@mylesmello) February 18, 2024
“This boy has been a teammate of mine but I see this and my heart breaks because I am experiencing it firsthand,” he tweeted referring to his own injury issues currently, as he recovers from surgery for a second anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Este chico ha sido compañero mio pero veo esto y se me parte el alma porque lo estoy viviendo en mi propia carne.
Hay que empezar a sancionar de una manera ejemplar y a la altura este tipo de entradas. ES INADMISIBLE. https://t.co/Ebo0K4Jccj— Gerard Deulofeu (@gerardeulofeu) February 18, 2024
“We must begin to make an example out of these types of tackles, with sanctions punishing them in an appropriate manner. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE.”
It is an issue that will be particularly close to his heart, having suffered bad injuries in recent years. Deulofeu is frequently a target for bad tackles due to his dribbling ability, and the Udinese forward has just undergone a second surgery in a little over a year to treat anterior cruciate ligament problems.
