Bristol City head coach Liam Manning says the club had called for referee Oliver Langford to be removed from their Championship play-off semi-final first leg against Sheffield United.
Langford sent off Robins defender Rob Dickie just before half-time for a foul on Sheffield United striker Kieffer Moore in the Bristol City penalty area.
Harrison Burrows dispatched the subsequent spot-kick and the Blades went on to beat their 10-man hosts 3-0 to secure a sizeable advantage heading into Monday’s second leg at Bramall Lane.
“A referee was put in charge of a game he should be nowhere near,” Manning told BBC Radio Bristol. “We called this week to flag our concerns with him doing it.”
Langford has issued six red cards in the past 12 games he has officiated – including four in matches involving Bristol City.
He sent off two Robins players in their draw at Oxford in February and then dismissed Sunderland’s Trai Hume in a City victory at Ashton Gate in April.
The Professional Game Match Officials Board (PGMOL) declined to respond to Manning’s comments, but pointed to its appointments policy, external, which determines the eligibility of referees.
The BBC has also contacted the EFL for comment.
