adminBAD NEWS: Premier League release official 45-word statement after Sunderland hit with three-game suspension blow
Sunderland returned to Premier League action on Saturday as they took on Manchester City, but the afternoon ended with bad news for Luke O’Nien, who will now serve a three-match suspension after being sent off late in the defeat.
O’Nien, brought on as a second-half substitute, mistimed a challenge on Matheus Nunes just moments after entering the pitch.
Although the referee initially showed a yellow card, VAR intervened and the decision was upgraded to a red for endangering an opponent.
The Premier League match centre later clarified the call, stating that the tackle met the criteria for serious foul play.
As a result, O’Nien will miss next weekend’s derby against Newcastle United, the trip to Brighton, and the post-Christmas meeting with Leeds United.
It’s a further setback for Régis Le Bris, who is already preparing to lose Reinildo and Arthur Masuaku to AFCON duty after the Newcastle fixture.
The Premier League’s explanation read: “Following a VAR review, the referee overturned the initial yellow card and issued a red for serious foul play.
Referee announcement: ‘After review, Sunderland No.13 commits a challenge which endangers the safety of the opponent. My final decision is red card.’”
Sunderland get boost ahead of Newcastle despite O’Nien setback
There was some positive news for Sunderland, as both Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki avoided suspension by getting through the match without another booking. Le Bris substituted both players after Phil Foden extended City’s lead to 3–0.
The club also remain hopeful that Reinildo will be fit for the Newcastle clash despite the groin issue that kept him out against City.
A pre-match update on social media read: “Reinildo misses today’s game due to a minor groin injury, but is expected to be available next weekend.”
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