Dover Athletic manager Jake Leberl tells how striker Decarrey Sheriff was ordered off by the referee after the red on his shirt sponsor was mistaken for blood

Dover striker Decarrey Sheriff was made to leave the pitch at AFC Totton - after the referee mistook his shirt sponsor for blood.

Whites boss Jake Leberl, whose side were already down to 10 men after the controversial dismissal of defender Harry Beadle, couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

It was a bizarre moment in a hugely frustrating Saturday afternoon, which ended in a 3-0 National League South defeat.

“The referee (Morgan Conn) made Sheriff go off because he thought he had blood on his shirt,” said Leberl.

“But it was the red of the Megger sponsor.

“We’re now down to nine men, we’re defending a corner, so I’ve gone to the fourth official and said ‘where’s the blood?’

“Sheriff was saying ‘I’m not cut, there is no blood’.

“I said to the fourth official ‘show me where the blood is’ and he couldn’t, so next thing he’s allowed him to go back on.

“I went to see the ref afterwards and he still said there was blood on the shirt, so it disappeared, did it?

“We all make mistakes, just be accountable.

“He could have said ‘I’m sorry, I genuinely thought there was blood on the shirt, I got it wrong’ but he didn’t.”

Beadle’s dismissal was Dover’s first red card of the season, while assistant manager Mike Sandmann was later sent from the touchline for dissent, although he didn’t swear.

Leberl himself was booked after questioning a caution for Luke Baptiste shortly before Totton’s opening goal.

Beadle went on to see red for an alleged elbow - a decision Whites were planning to appeal - and the Stags took full advantage of their extra man by pulling clear before receiving a late red card themselves.

“I never get irate about officials,” said Leberl.

“I appreciate what a difficult job it is - I referee kids’ football and it is hard.

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