Wolves' Raul Jimenez 'desperately unlucky' to have been sent off says ex ref Dermot Gallagher

The Wolves forward was given a second yellow card after a collision with Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier – a decision that was widely condemned as very harsh on Jimenez.

Now, former referee Gallagher says the Mexican was unfortunate to be sent off.

“The irony of it is, is that if VAR cannot get involved it is all or nothing,” he said.

“Because he’s already on a yellow card, he gets a second yellow card, and he’s desperately unlucky to be sent off. He’s desperately unlucky now that he’ll serve a ban and he’s even more unlucky that he can’t appeal because you can’t appeal a second yellow card, so he didn’t have a particularly good night.

“If that was a red card, that would have been overturned, there’s no doubt whatsoever.”

There has been some suggestion that if any player should have been booked then Meslier was culpable as replays show he initiated the contact with Jimenez, but Gallagher believes neither player should be punished.

“I think it’s a collision,” he added.

“Two players going for the ball, the goalkeeper has to go for the ball because that’s his job and the forward has to go to the ball because he’s trying to score a goal.

“The two players have collided and it’s inevitable. These things happen on football fields.”