Christian Benteke red card ‘ludicrous’ as Roy Hodgson rails against decisions ‘ruining’ football

Roy Hodgson has branded the decision to send Christian Benteke off against West Ham as "ludicrous" and says such calls are "ruining the game of football".

The Belgian opened the scoring with his third goal in as many games before twice being booked for raising his arm and catching a West Ham player - first Angelo Ogbonna and then Tomas Soucek - in the head, with Palace going on to draw the London derby 1-1.

After such a fine return to the Palace side since his first start of the season at West Brom, Hodgson will be without the striker for Saturday's visit of his former club Liverpool.

"I thought it was a ludicrous decision," a furious Hodgson said after the game.

"When people jump and challenge for the ball as he did in the first half, he is only trying to use his arms for leverage and trying honestly to win the ball.

"The fact your arm happens to brush across the face of your opponent, that is always likely to happen if both players are making an honest attempt to win it.

"I'm surprised you have to sit here and say these things as if you're some sort of monster who wants everything to go this way, I honestly believe that decisions like that and sending offs like that are ruining the game of football."

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