Norwich City: Millwall lose George Saville red card appeal

The midfielder was dismissed after cynically bringing down Jon Rowe on halfway as the Norwich winger was launching an attack. Referee Dean Whitestone showed no hesitation to produce the red card. 

Saville will now miss the next three games against Bristol City, Leicester, and Middlesbrough after the Lions' appeal was rejected, according to Southwark News. 

Despite being reduced to ten men, Millwall saw out the victory to secure back-to-back victories over the festive period. 

Lions boss Joe Edwards felt Saville's tackle was 'cynical' but not reckless and felt that City captain Kenny McLean was fortunate not to be punished for a tackle earlier in the game on George Honeyman. 

“I think he probably was (harsh). When you lunge like that, particularly when an opponent runs at that speed, it can look desperate and it puts the ref in a position," Edwards said.

Millwall lodged an appeal against George Saville's red card against Norwich City last night but it has been rejected.

So the three game ban stands and he will now miss games against Bristol, Leicester and Middlesborough #Millwall

— Kiro Evans (@kiro_evans) December 30, 2023

"But having seen it back – which obviously the ref doesn’t get the benefit of – it’s probably more cynical than it is reckless or dangerous.

“And if I think of the [Kenny] McLean tackle on George Honeyman before that in terms of a danger to an opponent, I don’t think there’s much difference in it. It can go against us but fortunately we rode it out after.”