Two Yellows don’t equal Red for Helan

Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) have launched an investigation into referee Mick Russell’s failure to send off Sheffield Wednesday’s Jeremy Helan in the 0-0 draw with Huddersfield at the Johns Siths Stadium today.

Russell showed Helan an initial caution for diving early on in the match and then issued a second yellow card on 26 minutes, but failed to produce the inevitable red card.

A statement from the Professional Game Match Officials Limited said:

‘The Professional Game Match Officials Limited are to conduct an investigation into an incident that took place in the Huddersfield Town v Sheffield Wednesday game in the npower Championship on Saturday.

‘In the eighth minute of the match Mick Russell, the referee, stopped play when Jeremy Helan was adjudged to have simulated an offence inside the Huddersfield penalty area.

‘However, it appears that instead of Helan (number 24) receiving a caution, one was given instead for Michail Antonio (number 7).

‘At this point the referee recorded the name and number of Antonio in his notebook and advised the fourth official over the communication system that

Antonio, number seven, had been cautioned.

‘In the 25th minute Helan was cautioned following a foul challenge. As the referee had not previously recorded his name he did not issue a red card for

receiving a second caution in the same game.

‘The official has subsequently admitted making a genuine error and PGMOL need to determine why this arose and what sanction, if any, should be administered to the match officials.’

Jeremy Helan completed the full match.