Everton: Disqualify Stuart Attwell for ‘horrendous’ Mason Holgate incident – Martin Samuel.

Stuart Attwell should be banned as an elite referee for his refusal to issue Everton loanee Mason Holgate a red card for a “horrendous” challenge claims Martin Samuel.

The Times journalist wrote in his column for the paper’s website on 24 February that the defender’s knee-high tackle on Kaoru Mitoma in Sheffield United’s 5-0 defeat against Brighton was “very identifiable in real time” and shouldn’t have required a VAR review to remove the 27-year-old.

He attacked the official for a chequered history of questionable actions after being fast-tracked into the top level at a young age, and argued he didn’t deserve to be there on current evidence.

Samuel wrote: “Stuart Attwell was on VAR duty at Aston Villa on Saturday, even though it is ever more apparent he has no clue what he is looking at. That Attwell decided Mason Holgate’s challenge in Sheffield United’s match with Brighton & Hove Albion was worth merely a yellow card should disqualify him as an elite referee, in the near term at least.

“Holgate made a horrendous challenge on Kaoru Mitoma, reckless, high and dangerous, and very identifiable in real time. It was rightfully elevated to a red on additional scrutiny, but that is hardly the point. Attwell has been fast-tracked and promoted throughout his career, in disregard of the evidence.

“He was 25 when he was hurried into the Premier League, taking charge of his first game on August 23, 2008, and within a month had given a ghost goal to Reading against Watford, when his assistant informed him he had seen the ball cross the line, which it hadn’t. Attwell is now 41, and doesn’t seem to have substantially improved.”