Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola insisted the referee “lost control” of proceedings after his side surrendered a two-goal lead in a dramatic 4-2 defeat to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Goals from Amine Adli and Tyler Adams put the visitors firmly in command, but Sunderland clawed their way back. Enzo Le Fée’s penalty halved the deficit before Bertrand Traoré equalised, and substitute Brian Brobbey completed the turnaround with a late winner.
Iraola acknowledged Brobbey’s “great header” yet remained deeply frustrated with the officiating, arguing that key decisions went against his side.
“When you’re 2-0 up and leave with nothing, it’s tough,” he said. “We expected a difficult match, and lately we’ve struggled with defending set pieces. We conceded twice from set plays and gave away a penalty, which we knew was one of their strengths. We did many things well, but it wasn’t enough.”
He also criticised the overall discipline in the game, suggesting the chaotic atmosphere was fuelled by the referee’s performance.
“If you were a Bournemouth fan here today, you’d think everyone could have been booked. I got a yellow card, my assistants got yellows, players too. You try to keep your head, but the referee was incredibly influential. I honestly wanted us to score a third just so I could complain even more. When you lose, it sounds like an excuse, but he really lost control.”
Iraola argued that several decisions were questionable, not just the penalty.
“The third goal starts from a foul on the halfway line that wasn’t given. It’s not just one moment. Yes, we must look at ourselves because set plays are costing us. But the referee’s influence was huge today.”
The defeat came with an added blow as Bournemouth now face three suspensions, but Iraola admitted he found it hard to condemn his players given how easily he might have been sent off too.
“It’s costly for us. We lose Marco Senesi, David Brooks and Lewis Cook for the Everton match — all important players. I’ll show the players the footage, but it was difficult out there. I got a yellow, and it could easily have been a second.”
He also questioned the lengthy VAR review on the penalty decision.
“There was a foul five seconds before the penalty. When VAR checks something for five minutes, you expect it to be overturned. They know it’s wrong, but they’re deciding if it’s wrong enough to intervene. Otherwise, you don’t check that long.”
The result leaves Bournemouth counting the cost of missed opportunities, disputed calls and a bruising afternoon on Wearside.