‘Extremely bizarre’ – Charlton boss Nathan Jones questions his red card in EFL Trophy tie

Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones has described the decision to send him off in last week’s EFL Trophy win over Bromley as “extremely bizarre”.

The Welshman was dismissed when match officials deemed he had touched the ball before it headed out of play at The Valley.

Jones was unable to conduct post-match media duties but he will be able to be back in the technical area for the next round of the competition in early December after no further punishment was taken.

Charlton will find out their opponents when the draw is made tomorrow evening.

“I felt it was an extremely bizarre decision,” said Jones. “I understand if they think it didn’t leave the pitch but I was standing in my technical area and the ball was coming towards me. I put my foot up to stop it and was sent off for that.

“It didn’t have any affect on the game whatsoever, there were no players near me and the ball was hurtling out at considerable speed. So it was a really bizarre sending off. I was embarrassed, if I’m honest, by it. But that is what happens now.

“There are a lot of things that frustrate me in football. There is so much emphasis now on the minor little details that don’t really mean a hell of a lot and then big decisions are getting missed. We’ve had some injuries to players from bad tackles that don’t get picked up. That is the frustration for me.

“I’m glad that it has been rescinded, if you like, because I felt it was a very bizarre decision, very unneccessary and total not in the spirit of how that game was played.”

PICTURE: KYLE ANDREWS