Bradford City is challenging the late dismissal of Emmanuel Osadebe during their match against Grimsby. Kevin McDonald, the team’s spokesperson, confirmed their intention to contest the red card decision issued to Osadebe in the final minutes of their Football League Trophy game on Tuesday. Osadebe, who had scored in Bradford City’s 2-1 victory, now faces a three-match ban in the competition. However, McDonald, who is currently the caretaker boss, disclosed that the club is fully committed to supporting Osadebe in the appeal process. He mentioned, “We are in the process of filing an appeal because we have strong faith in it. It appears that the reports have been somewhat altered, which seems to be a common occurrence in such situations. We will proceed with the appeal and await the outcome.”
The incident leading to Osadebe’s dismissal occurred when a scuffle erupted after Grimsby defender Harvey Rodgers made a late challenge on Chishom Afoka from behind. Rodgers seemed to push Afoka to the ground, at which point Osadebe intervened.
Osadebe grabbed Rodgers by his shirt and pushed him away, although initial comments from the officials at the scene suggested that Osadebe had grabbed Rodgers by the throat. However, video footage of the incident contradicts this claim.
McDonald expressed his frustration by stating, “I’ve been in situations like Manny’s or the other center half, where what the referee and the fourth official say at the time doesn’t match the subsequent report. We will await the outcome of the appeal, but it is indeed frustrating. We firmly believe that the incident did not warrant a sending off. It was a heated moment, and things got a bit out of hand, but if this is considered a red card offense, then there is a serious issue.”