Mark Warburton explains sideline “fiasco” that led to red card in QPR v Fulham clash

QPR boss Mark Warburton has explained the sideline “fiasco” that led to assistant John Eustace being shown a red card in the dying moments of Saturday’s West London derby defeat to Fulham at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.

An Aleksandar Mitrovic brace was enough to give the Whites a fifth consecutive victory over their local rivals and things went from bad to worse for the home side in added time.

With the R’s dugout already frustrated due a controversial penalty decision, an altercation broke out on the sideline and Eustace was shown a red card by referee Gavin Ward.

Speaking in the press conference after the game, Warburton revealed the events that led to his assistant’s sending off and questioned whether the officials had taken the right course of action.

He said: “The fiasco with John [Eustace] and the fourth official. That’s just nonsense, I’m sorry. Again, common sense has to be applied and once again it’s not.

“The ball comes off – nothing wrong with the Fulham bench – their guy starts juggling with the football. John goes to grab it, we’re losing a game of football, losing the derby.

“John goes to grab it, there’s a bit of a melee. Nothing sinister, bit of a melee. John turns around and thinks it’s the Fulham guy and does that (gestures putting his hands up in front of him at chest level) but it’s the fourth official.

“John has immediately responded by saying ‘I didn’t know it was you’ but the fourth has gone down the line and that was it John was off.

“A bit of common sense to say ‘John easy’? Yep, no problem. Game done. That would’ve just immediately defused the whole situation.

“We don’t. There seems to be a complete joy at running down the touchline and John gets sent off. What an earth are we doing?”

Th