Roy Hodgson: match officials ‘won’ in our failed appeal over Luka Milivojevic’s red card
Roy Hodgson has not backed down on his view that Luka Milivojevic should not have been sent off at Wolves, despite seeing an appeal against his ban dismissed.
Milivojevic was red-carded by referee Martin Atkinson for a lunge on Joao Moutinho in the 86th minute of the 2-0 defeat. Hodgson and his players felt that it was a fair tackle because the midfielder had made contact with the ball.
The Serbian will miss the Eagles’ next three matches after the FA’s appeals panel upheld his suspension on Wednesday.
Hodgson said: “We contested it because I was very strong in my opinion after the game that it was a fair tackle and it wasn’t even a foul, let alone a sending off offence.
“But, unfortunately, my thoughts on the subject were dismissed and the referee – as a result of being called by VAR to go and watch it on the screen – made another decision.
“They (officials) won, I lost, and we lose Luka for three games.”
The first match of Milivojevic’s ban will be when Palace host Leeds United tomorrow afternoon.
James McArthur will likely come into the midfield to replace the 29-year-old. McArthur returned from a calf strain for the match against Wolves but was an unused substitute.
