Lee Bowyer expected to escape touchline ban – with Charlton boss still unhappy at dismissal against Birmingham City
BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk
Charlton Athletic manager Lee Bowyer looked set to escape a touchline ban for his dismissal in Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Birmingham.
The Addicks boss was left fuming at his red card from referee Matt Donohue.
It is still unclear whether Donohue had included the incident in his match report. But Bowyer did not appear to be under any threat of a suspension from the sidelines when our paper went to press on Monday.
The Charlton manager was ready to appeal any punishment. He claimed he was sent off for throwing a spare ball back at the Birmingham bench after it entered the field of play in the closing stages – the South Londoners were trailing to Jude Bellingham’s 52nd-minute goal.
Bowyer had left his technical area as there was a break in play after the extra ball went on to the Valley pitch.
“The fourth official said I was too aggressive – I’m throwing the ball back,” said Bowyer. “What makes it worse is the fella didn’t catch the ball. There was no aggression. You can tell from my body language that there is no aggression.
“I know people on their bench – so why would I act like that? I’m not happy about it. I went to see the ref after the game and said: ‘How can you tell me that was aggressive? Only I know if it was aggressive. What if I’d kicked the ball? It would have gone even harder’.
“Even if I’d thrown it as hard as I could it doesn’t make it aggressive – it’s just throwing it back to them. If I’d pea rolled it back along the floor would that be any less aggressive?”
Birmingham caretaker head coach Pep Clotet was booked.
“I don’t know what happened with Mr Bowyer,” he said. “One of our balls left the technical area and went on to the pitch, so the ref did his job and said if I could not identify who was responsible then I would take the booking.
“So I took the booking. It is my responsibility in the end. It was a coincidence. If Mr Bowyer took it in the wrong way I’m sorry.”
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