Caernarfon chairman hugely disappointed at red card appeal rejection

Caernarfon Town chairman Paul Evans has expressed major disappointment that the club’s appeal against goalkeeper Lewis Brass‘s sending off in last Saturday’s game against Connah’s Quay Nomads has been rejected by the Football Association of Wales.

The controversial incident in the 67th minute of the match at Deeside Stadium saw Brass race to contest a loose ball with Nomads striker Jamie Insall, who fell dramatically to the ground.

Referee Thomas Owen showed Brass a red card, yet numerous video replays seen since reveal there appeared to be no contact between the pair.

Caernarfon appealed on the belief there had been a wrongful dismissal, but an FAW disciplinary panel which met today decided Mr Owen’s ruling should stand.

The FAW will also retain Caernarfon’s appeal fee of £314.40. The standard punishment for such a dismissal is a one-match ban, but as Brass had been previously sent off this season, he is out for two games.

Nomads won the match 4-0, but the score at the time of Brass’ early exit was 1-0.

Town chairman Evans said: “I’m extremely disappointed at the news that our appeal has been unsuccessful.

“We would not have contemplated submitting the appeal unless we knew the referee’s decision had been incorrect and, having looked at the television footage in detail and having spoken with a number of people outside the club about the incident, the consensus was that Lewis did not touch the opposing player and certainly didn’t deserve a red card.

“It would be wrong of me as the club’s chairman to comment on what everyone can clearly see in the clips that have been shared, but suffice to say this type of thing has become a sad part of the game in recent years.

“What I personally find disappointing is that the clip of the incident has been viewed over 50,000 times on Twitter, with everyone agreeing with our point of view and yet, the panel has disagreed with us all.

“We have been informed that we cannot appeal the decision and so that is the end of the matter.

“We all feel for Lewis, who now misses two matches through no fault of his own and hope to welcome him back soon.”

Grassroots North Wales comment:

Caernarfon Town have been victims of a major injustice here.

The drama of Jamie Insall’s fall to the ground should have gone against him – not for him.

Insall is a fine player and deserves respect for his impact since joining Nomads, but on this instance alone I feel the wrong person has been punished.

I do not overly blame referee Thomas Owen here – he had one look at the incident, same as his assistant.

However, the FAW disciplinary panel will have had numerous views of what happened and should have come up with the right decision.

This was one of their comments at today’s meeting: “Having considered the video footage, the Panel were more sure than not than not that contact had occurred between LB and the opposing player.”

Unbelievable. On the balance of probabilities, surely the benefit of any doubt would go with Lewis Brass?

Today’s decision has to raise questions about the competency of those who run the game in Wales. It all leaves a very nasty taste in the mouth.