Lloyd Kelly: Why did the Juventus player’s second yellow card become a straight red ‘terrible’?

Former Premier League defender Curtis Davies said the decision was an “absolute disgrace”.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Kelly stepped up to score a header. He headed the ball cleanly. His feet had to land on the ground somewhere.”

“Unfortunately, he signed the player. There has to be a level of understanding – where are he supposed to put his feet? I understand Kelly’s frustration.”

Davies’ sentiments were echoed by football journalist Rory Smith, who described the decision as “awful” and a “disgrace”.

Meanwhile, former Tottenham midfielder Andy Reid felt that football was “getting closer and closer to being a non-contact sport”.

He said: “There has to be contact in football, and sometimes people get hurt. It happens. There’s nothing you can do about it. It’s part of the game.”

Under UEFA rules, any player sent off by the referee – whether through two yellow cards or a straight red – is automatically suspended for the next match in European club competition.

However, in light of Juventus’ exit from the Champions League, Kelly’s ban will extend to next season.

Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha added: “If I were Kelly I would be really disappointed, but with the way football works, it will always be a red card.”

But former Liverpool full-back Stephen Warnock disagreed with this opinion.

He said: “I do not agree with that because it is just an accident. I understand the yellow card, but not the red card.”