Dynamo Kiev’s Champions League clash with Benfica ended in confusion after English referee Anthony Taylor mistakenly sent off a player.
Premier League official Taylor – who was referee for Cristiano Ronaldo’s second Manchester United debut against Newcastle on Saturday – committed a bit of a blunder in Europe on Tuesday night.
Dynamo star Denys Garmash looked completely baffled when he was told to get off the pitch towards the end of their Champions League opener with Benfica – which ended in a 0-0 draw.
Why? Taylor showed him a second yellow card, quickly followed by a red… but he had never received the first booking, nor had he committed a previous bookable offense.
Taylor’s blushes were spared, though, as the Englishman’s error was pointed out on the pitch.
Ukraine international Garmash was stunned to see a red card brandished his way, and quickly protested.
Dynamo boss Mircea Lucescu also made his feelings clear and tried to inform Taylor of his error.
The 42-year-old official then realised his mistake and corrected it, withdrawing the red card, meaning Garmash was able to complete the game with just the one booking to his name.
It’s not the first time Taylor has come under the spotlight this season.
He was in charge of Liverpool’s bad-tempered clash with Chelsea last month where Taylor sent off Reece James for handball.
Mohamed Salah scored from the spot to cancel out Kai Havertz’s opening goal to seal a 1-1 draw.
It also sparked handbags on the pitch between the players with Chelsea stars fuming over the decision. The Blues were later charged by the Football Association for failing to control their players.
It’s also not the first red card blunder made by an English referee at the top level of the game.
Graham Poll famously showed Croatia defender Josip Simunic three yellow cards before sending him off in the 2006 World Cup.
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