Taiwo Awoniyi was shown a straight red card for Coventry in the promoted club’s 5-0 defeat at home to Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Premier League
The 29-year-old striker received his marching orders for an off the ball incident early in the second half of the match with Brighton already two goals ahead
The incident occurred in the 53rd minute, two minutes after Brighton added a second to their halftime lead, with Awoniyi trying to reach a long punt forward by the goalkeeper
However, the former Nottingham Forest forward flailing arm hit Brighton’s Maxim De Cuyper following the jump, and referee Tony Harrington showed Awoniyi the red card
There was also no VAR intervention following the on-field referee’s decision
It was the first time Awoniyi would be sent off in the EPL, and the second in his club football career
He is also the 11th Nigerian player to be sent off in the EPL, and the first since Semi Ajayi in 2023
Brighton went on to add three more goals for the big away day win, with Pascal Gross, Lewis Dunk, and Yasin Ayari adding to earlier strikes from Charalampos Kostoulas and Malick Yalcouye
The defeat ensured winless and pointless Coventry suffered a fourth consecutive loss in four matches played this season, and last season’s Championship winners are yet to score a goal in the EPL this season It is the first time in Coventry’s history they have failed to register a goal or point in their first four league matches, and the club became only the second club in EPL history after Crystal Palace in 2017 to lose their first four matches without scoring.