BRIGHTON midfielder Carlos Baleba was left devastated after being hauled off just 22 minutes into the club’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa.
The 22-year-old received a yellow card just two minutes into the match following a challenge on Morgan Rogers at Villa Park.
With Brighton at risk of going down to 10 players early on, head coach Fabian Hurzeler made the decision to replace him before the half-hour mark.
Baleba looked heartbroken as he made his way to the bench and covered his head with his shirt.
The midfielder was replaced by James Milner, who equalled Gareth Barry‘s all-time Premier League record of 653 appearances.
Reflecting on the decision to substitute Baleba at full-time, Hurzeler suggested he was forced to because of the early booking.
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However, the Brighton boss admitted he did not think the challenge on Rogers warranted a card.
He said: “I’m not happy with the yellow card he gets so absolutely the wrong decision for me to give him… the first foul wasn’t even a bad foul, not a tactical foul, a yellow card.
“Then of course we had to take care of him so that was the only reason. But it was a big impact from the referee to give that yellow card, therefore we had to make the substitution.”
Speaking to BBC Sussex at full-time, Hurzeler also admitted: “I think we have to avoid the second yellow card.
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“We have to protect the young player, and we all have to understand what makes these kind of things with a young player.
“We only see always the player, but not the person behind it.
“I saw these fouls so many times in the Premier League and 99% you don’t give a yellow card and, therefore, I really don’t get it.”
Aston Villa went on to win the match following an 86th-minute own-goal from Jack Hinshelwood.
Meanwhile, Baleba has been heavily linked with a move away from Brighton in recent months.
Manchester United have repeatedly expressed an interest in signing the midfielder, who was valued between £80million and £100m last summer.
SunSport revealed last month that United are growing increasingly confident of sealing a deal.