Abdul Fatawu was shown a straight second yellow card and sent off in Ipswich Town’s 1-0 Premier League defeat at Everton, capping a frustrating afternoon for the Tractor Boys.
The winger was dismissed in the 67th minute after referee Stuart Attwell judged that Fatawu had thrown himself to the ground going past James Garner, ruling it simulation. It was his second caution of the match, having already been booked in the first half for a foul on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Ipswich were left to play the final half hour with ten men as they chased the game.
The dismissal means Fatawu will now serve a one-match suspension for his next Ipswich fixture, with Jaden Philogene and Kasey McAteer among the candidates to deputise on the flank in his absence.
The red card leaves Fatawu in unwanted company: he becomes the third player in the last six Premier League seasons to be sent off for a second yellow specifically for simulation, joining Yves Bissouma and Jacob Ramsey on that list.
It was a cruel end to what had otherwise been a productive outing for the Ghanaian before his dismissal, Fatawu had registered two shots, a key pass, a big chance created, and two recoveries, underlining the influence he had been having on the game before his ill-discipline intervened.
Ipswich’s defeat was compounded by a controversial VAR call, with Everton’s Thierno Barry seeing a second-half header ruled out for offside against Brennan Johnson despite the build-up controversy. Barry’s earlier deflected first-half strike proved decisive as the Toffees extended their unbeaten start to the season