Courtesy: Google/X
John Marquis, the captain of Shrewsbury Town, was sent off in just 13 seconds for elbowing defender Sam Hughes during their League One tie against Peterborough, which they ended up losing 1-3 at the ABAX Stadium on Saturday, March 1. With that, the 32-year-old equalled the record of the fastest red card in professional football in England, matching the time of 13 seconds set by former Sheffield Wednesday goal-keeper Kevin Pressman, who had handled the ball outside the area in the year 2000.
Notably, the challenge that made the referee Martin Woods give a straight red card to John Marquis was involving Peterborough defender Sam Hughes, to whom he gave an elbow. After the conclusion of the match, the manager of Shrewsbury Town, Gareth Ainsworth defended his team’s captain John Marquis, talking about how his challenge deserved a yellow card at best for being “a bit dangerous.”
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I don't think it was a red card. John's devastated in the dressing room: Gareth Ainsworth
Gareth Ainsworth was quoted as saying to BBC Radio Shropshire about the matter, “I don't think it was a red card. John's devastated in the dressing room to be sent off. He has tried to put his arm across the centre-half, rather than leading with his arm and trying to whack him. That's two different things. You've got to use your common sense and say 'it's a bit dangerous mate and it's a yellow card'. Not a straight red. All the fans are baying for it. The bench is up in arms, it's hard for the ref, but come on.”
Meanwhile, Darren Ferguson, the Peterborough manager, stated that it was the first time he saw the first challenge in the early stages of a football match resulting in a sending off from a referee. He remarked, “It's a first time for everyone where the first action results in a red card. John's gone up to challenge and the referee made his mind up quick.”
The red card to the captain John Marquis resulted in a tough defeat for Shrewsbury Town, which means that they are at the bottom of the points table in the League One, eight points below the safety mark with just 12 games to save their campaign.
