Manchester City head coach Josep Guardiola rotated the squad in the English League Cup quarterfinal match against Brentford. This presented an opportunity for Abdulkodir Husanov, who had been sidelined due to health issues, to return to the starting lineup and play for a full 90 minutes. However, the debut in this match turned out to be intense and controversial for the Uzbek player.
A fortunate 16th minute: Red or yellow?
In the 16th minute of the game, the 21-year-old defender found himself in a challenging situation. Following an error by teammate Nathan Aké, Brentford forward Kevin Schade got a clear one-on-one chance with the goalkeeper. In an attempt to prevent a goal, Husanov committed a foul to stop the opponent.
In this situation, referee Sam Barrott only issued a yellow card to the Uzbek player. This decision sparked significant criticism from the opposing team and experts alike.
Coaches and experts express dissatisfaction
After the match, Brentford head coach Keith Andrews harshly criticized the referee's decision:
Keith Andrews: “Husanov was extremely lucky not to be shown a red card. It was a clear goal-scoring opportunity. The referees’ excuse of ‘the ball was far from the goal’ does not convince me. A serious mistake was made here.”
Sky Sports pundit and former City player Andy Hinchcliffe echoed this opinion: “It was a clear goal-scoring chance. No defender could have stopped him without committing a foul. According to IFAB rules, it should have been a red card.”
Why didn’t VAR intervene?
Many fans naturally raised the question: “Why wasn’t the video review system (VAR) used?” The reason lies in the regulations of the English League Cup, which state that the VAR system is only employed from the semifinal stage onwards.
The main reason for this rule is to ensure equal conditions for all participating teams. Lower-league teams (such as Cardiff City) do not have the necessary technology in their stadiums, so VAR is not implemented until the semifinals. This lack of technology worked in favor of Manchester City and Husanov in this instance.
Heroics after the controversy
Despite the controversial situation and refereeing debate, Abdulkodir Husanov did not succumb to psychological pressure. Instead, he became one of the most active and reliable players on the field for the remainder of the match. His solid defensive performance played a crucial role in securing Manchester City’s progression to the next round.
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