Football players don’t always have the best reputation in the world when it comes to faking injuries, flopping or trying to avoid accountability. Doncaster Rovers midfielder Lee Tomlin tried to do just about all that and more on Saturday and paid it off with two yellow cards in the space of 17 seconds, which led to his dismissal from the game.
The 33-year-old man, who was makes his Doncaster debut after signing a one-year deal with the club this week, certainly made his mark against Bradford City on Saturday afternoon in a League Two showdown.
With the score tied 0-0 in added time at the end of the first half, Tomlin interfered with Bradford City’s attempt to take a free-kick by bending over to touch the ball and facing the opposition . This led to a yellow card from the referee. Tomlin refused to back down, then hit the ground in apparent pain despite being almost untouched. Given the obvious attempt to stop the game, the referee hit him with a second yellow card 17 seconds later which meant his day was over.
Lee Tomlin 😭
— Joe 🇨🇴 (@WfcJoe_) July 30, 2022
Tomlin pointed the finger at himself after being kicked out of the game, as if to say “who, me? might be the best part.
Even Bradford City’s Twitter account couldn’t resist calling it as they saw it.
🟥 45+5′ | RED CARD | Donny to 10 men. Very, very strange. Lee Tomlin pushes the ball away and is cautioned, then throws himself to the ground immediately after to earn a second yellow.
🐓 0-0 🔴#BCAFC | #BRAvDON | @PethBassSols
— Bradford City AFC (@officialbantams) July 30, 2022
This whole silly situation has sparked a lot of funny reactions in the football world.
Possibly the worst red card I have ever seen. https://t.co/kUyOPk76Rq
—Steve Dresser (@dresserman) July 30, 2022
The state of this 🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/7uAMFIpDlo
— Joe Crann (@YesWeCrann) July 30, 2022
We have to say this is one of the most gloriously petulant red cards you are likely to see 🤣pic.twitter.com/3c1E24X9Ee
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) July 30, 2022
League Two is straight comedy 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/Uiqz9hLZYt
— Soccer Stool (@StoolFootball) July 30, 2022
Lee Tomlin Ladies and gentlemen.
Football is back.
pic.twitter.com/F6uqUWkxge—Edward Walker (@edward_w97) July 30, 2022
Once in a while you have to take one for the team. Lee Tomlin did the right thing here by getting that red card pic.twitter.com/mhQnVhm6aK
— Max Rushden 💙 (@maxrushden) July 30, 2022
The game ended 0-0, so you can safely say that his prevention of Bradford City’s goal attempts paid off…
