Whelan labels Clifford red card a 'terrible decision'
February 10, 2020
Kerry's David Clifford fumes at the umpire. ©INPHO/Bryan Keane.
Ciaran Whelan believes referee Fergal Kelly got it badly wrong in issuing Kerry captain David Clifford with a second yellow card against Tyrone.
Clifford was pulled to the ground and held there by substitute Ben McDonnell in the closing stages of the Kingdom's defeat in Edendork, leading to both players being booked.
Former Dublin midfielder Whelan said of the controversial incident on RTE's Allianz League Sunday: "This is something that's been in the game for a few years where a key player is targeted by defenders to try and suck them in and get them a yellow card
"And we really need referees to start to stand up to this and to see common sense. We saw the incident, the umpires were behind the goal. David Clifford is not going to be instigating.
"He's the key player and he gets dragged to the ground and picks up a yellow card and you can see how frustrated, how annoyed he is. It's been a bugbear of mine for a couple of years that when the key players are targets, they get sucked in and get a silly yellow card.
"We need common sense. Terrible decision by Fergal Kelly."
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