Brian Howard's way means missing two games for Sheffield United
Published Date: 31 October 2008
By Ian Appleyard
SHEFFIELD United's on-loan midfielder Brian Howard will have to miss the club's next two games after a mix-up over his disciplinary record.
Howard, who was already ineligible for next weekend's game against Barnsley under the terms of his loan deal, was booked for 'time-wasting' in the latter stages of the midweek draw at Bristol City.
If that had been his fifth yellow card of the season, it would have resulted in a one-game ban, under the totting up procedure, coinciding with the trip to Oakwell.
However, the Blades have subsequently discovered that Howard reached five yellow cards when booked for dissent in the latter stages of last weekend's win over Preston North End.
It means Howard will not only miss the Barnsley game but also serve a one-game suspension against Plymouth tomorrow.
Manager Kevin Blackwell admitted that an 'administrative error' had occurred and the situation only became apparent after Tuesday night's game.
"We thought he would be missing for Barnsley," said Blackwell. "Brian is disappointed because on all the soccer databases it only showed him having four."
Howard arrived at Bramall Lane last month with three bookings this season for Barnsley.
The Soccerbase website, which has no official links to the Football Association, had not recorded Howard's first booking of the season against Coventry City on August 16.
A spokesman for the FA said: "It is always a club's own responsibility to be aware of a player's disciplinary record. When a club signs a new player, they usually enquire – our disciplinary department is always happy to clarify."
