Former Premier League referee Mike Dean has weighed in on the red card controversy involving Super Eagles defender Ola Aina during Saturday’s matchup between Nottingham Forest and Leeds United, Footynaija.com reports.
Aina was involved in one of the biggest talking points of Forest’s opening Premier League fixture of the 26/27 season after catching James Justin with a challenge during the first half.
The 29-year-old initially received a yellow card, with VAR subsequently reviewing the incident to determine whether the Super Eagles star actually deserved a sending off.
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However, referee Anthony Taylor decided to stick with the yellow, a decision Dean believes to be correct Aina’s challenge did not meet the threshold for a sending-off offence.
“I think because he is low, he has missed the ball completely and his back leg has just caught the other guy. I don’t think it is a sending off,” Dean said, per quotes revealed by MOT Leeds News.
While the incident generated plenty of discussion, Aina otherwise enjoyed an encouraging outing in his first competitive game under the tutelage of new Forest manager Oliver Glasner..
The Nigeria international started in a new right wing-back role and was one of the Tricky Trees’ most productive players before exiting the pitch after his substitution in the 74th minute.
Aina created three chances, a joint-game high, while also completing three successful dribbles, more than any other player on the pitch.
His individual showing, however, was not enough to prevent Nottingham Forest from suffering a disappointing start to the new campaign as Anton Stach’s stunning late free-kick was enough to secure all three points for Leeds.
Aina will now have the chance to build on his performance when Forest face Leeds again in the EFL Cup second round during the week. The Super Eagles defender will also be hoping to maintain his impressive start in his new role ahead of Forest’s next Premier League assignment against Liverpool.
