Michael Carrick was left astounded by the lack of a red card for Trai Hume in the early stages of the Wear-Tees derby, raising questions about the fairness of the decision. The Sunderland defender made a reckless challenge on Emmanuel Latte Lath just outside the box, prompting calls for a sending off from the Boro boss.

Although Hume was only shown a yellow card for the challenge, replays suggested that he may have dodged a red card despite the severity of the tackle. Following the match where Sunderland suffered a 1-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light, Carrick expressed his disbelief at the referee’s decision.

Carrick voiced his frustration, stating, “It was a clear red card for the tackle on Manu. I can’t comprehend why it went unnoticed. It seems like there’s this unwritten rule that early incidents should not result in red cards, but when does it cross the line to deserve one? It’s all a bit ambiguous for me. I haven’t had a chance to speak to the referee directly; I only discussed it with the fourth official calmly.”

Believing that the non-red card had a significant impact on the game’s outcome, Carrick added, “He managed to play the entire match despite that challenge. It was a pivotal moment. In my time as manager, we’ve encountered red card decisions that altered the course of the game. Today was no exception. We had strategized to play on the edge but within limits. Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on our side this time.”