Wrexham are outraged by Paul Mullin’s “ridiculous” ban, with Phil Parkinson criticizing the new EFL yellow card directives.
WHAT OCCURED?
For 2023-24, the Football League has implemented new rules designed to keep the ball in play for as long as possible while reducing time wasting. Mullin, a Dragons striker, has been a victim of these protocols, and is currently serving a suspension after receiving five cautions.
HOW THEY SAID IT
Parkinson told BBC Sport Wales after meeting with the EFL’s head of refereeing, Mike Jones, that “a lot of bookings I discussed were for delaying restarts and that was a directive to get the ball in play more – anyone delaying the restart would get a yellow – but they’ve just gone too far.” Mullin’s booking for running to take a throw-in against Sutton was ridiculous. He dashed to pick up the ball in preparation for the throw – George Evans had just passed the ball off the pitch, and there was no booking.
“Of course within those bookings there are ones that can be avoided, but equally there are ones which, if you look at James McClean against Sutton – where he’s got fouled and in the action of him getting fouled James clears the ball and he books him for time wasting – never in a million years. It’s something we’ve got to deal with. Every manager has got frustrations with officials at the moment.”
THE LARGER IMAGE
Parkinson went on to say of a topic that clearly irritates him, “It’s a hot topic right now.” I believe there is still work to be done for the powers that be. We took pride in not receiving too many bookings last year, and we finished first in the fair play league in all divisions except the Premiership. But it’s really simple to get booked.
“The referees are issuing (too many) yellow cards.” I went over many of the yellow cards with the head of the referees, Mike Jones, and he agreed that many of them should not have been given.
So I believe the refs have been too eager at times, and there has been inconsistency, not just at this level, but also at the Premiership level.”
WHAT COMES NEXT?
Despite receiving cards on a regular basis, Wrexham have performed admirably this season, with a 10-game unbeaten run across all competitions helping the Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney co-owned club to third place in League Two and a chance at back-to-back promotions.
