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Essex,3 mins

Steve Pitt calls Marshall-Miranda suspension 'a big question mark'

91福利社 Essex Sport

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Braintree Town manager Steve Pitt says the FA's handling of midfielder Marley Marshall-Miranda's suspension raises 'a big question mark over the integrity of the league'. Marshall-Miranda received a three-match suspension on Easter Saturday after picking up his 15th yellow card of the season during Good Friday's 0-0 draw against Southend United. In a statement, the FA said 'the club was notified... as a result on Saturday 19th April'. It also stated that the 'guidance about the threshold' of yellow cards 'is issued to clubs'. But Braintree have claimed they have evidence that the midfielder's 'status changed on the website in the week' and that the threshold before a three-match suspension had been increased to 20 bookings. Pitt says that based on this they told Marshall-Miranda 'to play with freedom', thinking he would not pick up a suspension if booked. Pitt also said the FA gave them 'no notification' of Marshall-Miranda's change of status. It has left the Iron with only 12 players available for selection ahead of their last two games of the National League season, away at Halifax Town and at home to Rochdale. Braintree Town are five points clear of the National League relegation zone with two games to go. The statement from the FA reads: 鈥淎ny player that receives 15 league cautions in a season is automatically suspended for three matches, and guidance about this threshold is issued to clubs. Braintree Town鈥檚 Marley Marshall-Miranda received his 15th league caution of this season on Friday 18th April, and the club was notified about his three-match suspension as a result on Saturday 19th April.鈥

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