Thomas Bramall handed Carabao Cup final role after Leeds United Gabriel Gudmundsson red card
The referee came under scrutiny after sending Leeds United defender Gabriel Gudmundsson off last weekend.
The referee at the heart of several controversial decisions during Leeds United’s 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace has been confirmed as fourth official for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final between Manchester City and Arsenal.
Thomas Bramall endured a difficult afternoon at Selhurst Park last weekend with a number of key decisions coming under scrutiny. None more so than his decision to send off Leeds left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson through two yellow cards, the second of which was very soft.
Gudmundsson and Ismaila Sarr collided on the halfway line with Bramall quick to brandish a yellow, seemingly forgetting he’d already booked the Swede. The experienced Premier League referee had to be reminded by Palace players and fourth official Paul Tierney.
Bramall then failed to show a second yellow card to Palace wing-back Brennan Johnson when he brought down James Justin to stop a counter-attack, his fourth foul of the game. The official did get one decision correct, awarding Leeds a penalty for handball by Will Hughes while his assistant rightly disallowed a Jefferson Lerma goal for offside.
Bramall has been confirmed as fourth official for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final meeting between Manchester City and Arsenal. Alongside Carabao Cup referee Peter Bankes, assistants Neil Davies and Steve Meredith and VAR John Brooks, he has been taken off any domestic league duties for the weekend as is standard procedure.
Thomas Bramall fallout after Leeds United controversy
Those decisions at Selhurst Park have been a major talking point throughout the week so far, with former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher insisting Gudmundsson was correctly sent off while Johnson deserved to stay on. Many other pundits and ex-officials have disagreed while Farke highlighted the inconsistency between both decisions in his post-match press conference.
"I'm not sure there are really words needed, everyone in the stadium could see," Farke said. "It was not even close to a yellow card, there was no pace in the duel, it was not a tactical foul.
“Why he has decided to give a yellow, has forgotten this player is on a yellow and was himself surprised his decision means a sending off. When you compare this when Brennan Johnson [on a yellow] was there with a tackle with more pace, a clear tactical foul - it was not a yellow for me, I'm not asking for a yellow/red.
“But for Gabi, his second foul of the game, then the game is influenced in a key matter. Details make the difference, a player less makes 10 per cent difference more or less. Thank God we found a way to travel with a point."
Jarred Gillett has been placed in charge of Brentford’s visit to Elland Road on Saturday night. He will be assisted by Simon Long and Nick Greenhalgh, with Anthony Backhouse the fourth official and Matt Donohue on VAR duties.