Coventry City’s 3-0 loss to Ipswich is now in the past, but revisiting the key moments only makes referee Paul Tierney’s decisions look more baffling.
The controversial sequence began early.
At 15 minutes, Ipswich striker George Hirst was booked for a strong tackle on Bobby Thomas.
Two minutes later, Josh Eccles received a yellow card for taking a long-range shot just after Tierney had halted play for a soft foul by Ephron Mason-Clark on Azor Matusiwa.
Then, at 33 minutes, Tierney chose not to punish Hirst when the striker, flagged offside, continued his run into the box and drove the ball wide of Carl Rushworth’s post.
There was little difference between Eccles’ actions and Hirst’s, and if anything, Hirst had more time to pull out. Instead of being dismissed for a second booking, he remained on the pitch and later scored Ipswich’s second goal, fuelling Coventry’s frustration.
Tierney’s reasoning remains unknown, but the glaring inconsistency is what angers players, managers and fans the most. The replays also show that Tierney seemed ready to let Eccles’ late shot slide until several Ipswich players rushed toward him demanding a card. They could arguably have been cautioned for unsporting behaviour, just as Coventry players might have been for surrounding the referee after Hirst escaped punishment. The difference is that Coventry were asking for fairness, while Ipswich were pushing for an advantage.
It’s another reminder of how far modern football has drifted from notions of respect and sportsmanship, with players now willing to abandon professional courtesy if it gives them even the smallest edge.