Albion Boss Defends Midfielder Over Early Yellow Card

Fabian Hurzeler says Carlos Baleba was unfairly penalized in loss to Villa

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Albion manager Fabian Hurzeler criticized the decision by referee Peter Bankes to issue an early yellow card to midfielder Carlos Baleba during their match against Villa. Hurzeler felt the card, given just two minutes into the game, changed Albion's gameplan and ultimately impacted the outcome of the match.

Why it matters

Controversial refereeing decisions can have a major impact on the course of a match, especially when they come so early in the game. Hurzeler's comments highlight the frustration managers feel when they believe their team has been unfairly disadvantaged by the officials.

The details

TV replays showed the yellow card issued to Baleba inside the first two minutes of the match. Hurzeler felt the decision was harsh and that it forced Albion to adjust their tactics, ultimately leading to the loss against Villa.

  • The yellow card was issued to Carlos Baleba just 2 minutes into the match.

The players

Fabian Hurzeler

The manager of Albion football club.

Carlos Baleba

A midfielder for Albion football club who received an early yellow card in the match against Villa.

Peter Bankes

The referee who issued the controversial yellow card to Baleba early in the match.

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What they’re saying

“Carlos Baleba was victim of a bad decision at Villa Park.”

— Fabian Hurzeler, Albion Manager (Yahoo Daily News)

The takeaway

This incident highlights the significant impact that refereeing decisions, even early in a match, can have on the overall outcome. Managers will continue to advocate for greater consistency and fairness from officials in order to ensure games are decided by the players on the pitch.