Breaking News: An ex-ref renders a decision after Brighton and Brentford managers argue over Joao Pedro’s choice.

Brighton frontman Joao Pedro dodged a red card after throwing back an elbow with the decision diving opinion as Thomas Frank and Fabian Hurzeler saw things very differently

Thomas Frank was adamant that Joao Pedro should’ve been shown red after swinging an elbow at Yehor Yarmoliuk.

The Brighton forward dodged any punishment during his side’s goalless draw with Brentford, but the Bees boss and his counterpart were not aligned on whether the decision made by referee Andy Madley was the right one.

Pedro was carrying the ball when Yarmoliuk attempted to tug him back and stop his progress. In an effort to shake off his opponent the Brighton star tried to wriggle free, but appeared to throw an elbow back in an aggressive fashion, narrowly missing his opponent’s head.

Frank said: “Yes (Joao Pedro should have got sent off) – you can’t swing your arms and try to hit someone. If you hit them or not, it’s a red card.”

However Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler was adamant his player was simply trying to rid of his opponent and the decision was a correct one. “For me, it’s not a red card. He (Pedro) tried to get free from a personal duel,” he said.

VAR officials reviewed the footage but opted not to send Pedro off, with the Premier League later releasing a statement explaining why he avoided punishment.

“The referee’s call of no red card to Joao Pedro for violent conduct was checked and confirmed by VAR, who deemed the referee’s call was not clear and obviously wrong,” the statement read.

Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg agreed with the decision not to dish out a red card, but warned that it would have been an “easy” decision for the referee if Pedro had made any contact.

Clattenburg said: “If we look at the laws of the game as it’s written, it has to be to strike an opponent or attempt to strike an opponent. Because there was no contact he can’t be sent off the field of play for the contact. Therefore, it’s whether he attempted to strike the opponent. The more I look at it, because it’s an unusual action, especially from behind he is looking towards Andy Madley when he swings his arm. He keeps his arm quite close to his body and I think it’s more of a gesture to the referee.

“Andy Madley is in a very good position. He couldn’t have been sent off for the contact but he could have been sent off for the attempted contact. I believe it’s a gesture more than an attempted strike. I think Joao Pedro makes a gesture to the referee but if he wanted to swing and use brutality he would have swung his arm out and created contact.”