Bradford goalkeeper confuses rugby pitch markings for his own penalty area during 1-1 draw against Newport County, catching the ball ‘MILES’ outside of his own box… but avoids a red card
- Goalkeeper Harry Lewis received a yellow in Bradford’s 1-1 draw to Newport Cty
- The keeper confused rugby markings on the pitch with his own penalty box
- He could have been given a red card for handling the ball outside of the area
Harry Lewis was caught out by rugby pitch markings during Bradford’s 1-1 draw to Newport County on Saturday as he caught the ball several meters outside of his own penalty area.
It was a moment to forget for the 25-year-old, who was confused by the faded lines that had been used by the Dragons rugby union team – who share the same stadium at Rodney Parade.
However, shot-stopper Lewis, who joined the Bantams on a free transfer from Southampton last summer, was incredibly not awarded a red card for handling the ball outside his area.
Newport players were left furious as they waved their hands in the air – though the referee appeared to see some sympathy to the goalkeepers lapse of concentration.
With a long ball coming over the top of his defence, and a Newport attacker approaching, the goalkeeper had to react, but seemed to mistake a faded 22-yard line with his own penalty area, opting to catch the ball and throw it out wide to another Bradford defender.
Harry Lewis had a moment to forget during Bradford’s 1-1 draw to Newport on Saturday
A bouncing ball was punted upfield – with Lewis moving past his penalty area to catch it
Lewis had mistaken rugby lines drawn from the Dragons rugby union team that share the Rodney Parade stadium
Picking up the ball outside the penalty area – as was seen with fellow shot-stopper Nick Pope – who handled the ball outside of the box in Newcastle’s recent loss to Liverpool – the offence tends to carry the sanction of a red card.
But in this circumstance, Lewis was only awarded a yellow card, with Newport’s official Twitter account in uproar at the decision, writing: ‘Absolutely unbelievable.
‘Bradford keeper Harry Lewis catches a long ball miles out of his goal and only gets a yellow for it.’
The away side would infuriate their…