West Brom Manager Red Carded in Early Clash with Saints
In a bizarre turn of events, West Bromwich Albion’s manager, Carlos Corberan, was shown a red card just minutes into their home clash against Southampton. The incident occurred when Corberan stepped out of his technical area to stop a loose ball from going out of play. The 40-year-old believed that Sekou Mara’s through ball for Adam Armstrong had gone off the pitch and instinctively stuck out his left leg to divert the ball to Darnell Furlong. However, referee Sam Allison wasted no time in brandishing the red card, deeming Corberan’s action as a violation.
Corberan, clearly shocked by the decision, protested his innocence to the match official, but his pleas fell on deaf ears as he was sent to the stands. The game then restarted with a drop ball, and Corberan’s dismissal became one of the strangest red cards of the season so far.
Unfortunately for West Brom, things quickly went from bad to worse as Ryan Fraser broke the deadlock for Southampton in the 14th minute at The Hawthorns. With Corberan’s absence on the touchline and the club’s prospective new owner, Shilen Patel, in attendance, it was certainly not the start the hosts had hoped for.
Patel’s imminent takeover, reported to be worth £60 million, marks the end of Guochuan Lai’s unsettled reign as the club’s owner. Lai had purchased West Brom in 2016 for over £200 million but had faced pressure to sell amid financial difficulties and failure to repay loans. The club has been actively seeking a new buyer due to increasing losses, with over £20 million reportedly borrowed from MSD Holdings Limited.
Corberan’s red card and Patel’s impending takeover have put West Brom in the spotlight. Unfortunately, due to FA rules, Corberan will not be allowed to participate in an immediate post-match interview to give his side of the story on the incident. Nevertheless, speaking to Sky Sports before the match, Corberan expressed his focus on the game, despite the ongoing takeover talks. He stated that the potential takeover is a positive development for the club and that he is fully committed to preparing for the match, considering the demanding schedule of consecutive games.
This unusual incident and the impending ownership change have certainly added an extra layer of intrigue to West Brom’s season. Fans will be eagerly awaiting further updates on both fronts as the club navigates through this eventful period.