What the Ryan Gravenberch sending-off really says about the Premier League
Former football stars and pundits have criticized a referee's decision to issue a second yellow card to Ryan Gravenberch during a Premier League match. The dismissal is being debated as a harsh officiating error that significantly impacted the game's outcome.
Why it matters
It reflects ongoing controversies regarding officiating standards and the influence of refereeing decisions on the integrity of professional sports.
Peter Schmeichel and a handful of Viaplay pundits called out referee Chris Kavanagh's decision to award Ryan Gravenberch a second yellow card against Manchester City.
The Dutchman was handed his marching orders in the second half of action against the table-toppers after an innocuous challenge against Jeremy Doku .
The Sky Blues secured a 3-0 victory over their Premier League rivals following the former Bayern star's dismissal.
Speaking on Viaplay after the Reds' first league defeat of the 2026/27 season, Schmeichel and Co had this to say:
Peter Schmeichel: "I think that's really wrong – and that's a refereeing mistake."
Freddie Ljungberg: "I think it's very harsh… Definitely, it's a free-kick, no question about it. But that does not have to be a second yellow in this fixture… I think that's very unfair."
Jaap Stam: "This one, for me, is definitely not a second card."
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in