Hull City chief Liam Rosenior has broken his public silence on the controversial end to Saturday's 2-1 Championship defeat at Norwich City.
Rosenior was red carded in the aftermath of Adam Idah’s 96th minute winner at Carrow Road, with the visitors incensed at the sequence of events that culminated in defeat.
The Tigers’ head coach was not permitted to conduct post-match media duties but his assistant, Justin Walker, made it clear Hull were unhappy at the time allowed by referee Keith Stroud.
Television replays appeared to indicate Idah was in an offside position at the moment Sean McLoughlin diverted Marcelino Nunez’s cross into his path, but the winner stood after a consultation between the officials.
The Football League announced a raft of measures prior to the new season around time keeping and ‘deliberate’ defensive actions that lead to goals.
🗣️ “I can categorically say there was no offensive language”
— BBC Humberside Sport (@HumbersideSport) August 7, 2023
🎥 @HullCity head coach Liam Rosenior talks about his dismissal and the controversy surrounding events leading up to Saturday’s winning goal for @NorwichCityFC.#hcafc | #bbcefl | @RadioHumberside pic.twitter.com/XK4Vzd7UNV
"Everyone in the stadium knows the ball (for the corner) was off the pitch before he crosses it," he said, speaking to BBC Humberside on Monday ahead of the midweek League Cup home tie against Doncaster. "Then the ball comes in from the corner, we deal with it, shot blocked, and the ball goes out to a safe zone. That is the extra 15 seconds the official told me we are playing for the goal kick.
"I like Keith. He is a good referee. But look at the incident back. Instead of looking in the box where the ball is going, he is looking at his watch. Time is done. While he is looking at his watch my big centre half has been thrown on the floor.
"Macca has got up from being thrown on the floor, the ball hits him and drops for their lad, who is in an offside position, and he scores with the last kick of the game. Now we are talking about me being sent off as a reaction to all those circumstances.
"That doesn't excuse our performance but if we don't play well and come away with a great point I look at the other results in the Championship and that is this league. But we had a great point taken away from us because of officiating. Now I lose out because of my reaction to that.
"(Are you facing a touchline ban?) I don't know. I had a real good conversation with Keith after the game. I have known him for years. I used to watch him ref my dad. That's how long I go back with him and I have respect for him. I went in after the game, and to give Keith credit, he invited me into his room and we had a really good conversation.
"Hopefully that is taken into account, because it is a reaction to something that shouldn't have happened in the first place.
"(What did you do to be red carded?) I don't know. I can categorically say there was no offensive language to the fourth official, no name calling. What I did do was throw my jacket on the floor, which was a reaction in rage to them scoring a last second goal. I still don't know why I was sent-off?
"We must wait for the report. I spoke before the game about having respect for officials and the opposition. I didn't act in any way that was aggressive to anyone. It was a reaction to something that happened in front of my eyes."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here