Rule change proposed that would allow Anthony Gordon to play in Carabao Cup final for Newcastle

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Anthony Gordon will have to sit in the stands and watch his Newcastle United teammates walk out to Wembley.

The 24-year-old only has himself to blame. Anthony Gordon will miss the Carabao Cup final after picking up a red card in the FA Cup defeat to Brighton.

Gordon lashed out after the whistle, putting two hands in the face of Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke.

The controversial decision split opinion, with Richard Keys defending Gordon and suggesting he should be able to play. Newcastle were told there were three arguments to appeal Gordon’s red, but ultimately the club decided against it.

Newcastle fans agreed to not appeal the decision, with Alan Shearer’s view on Gordon’s appeal being that the club would have “no chance” of overturning it.

Eddie Howe will now be without Gordon for the biggest game of the season, but Jim White believes the suspension rules should be changed.

Jim White suggests red card rule change after Anthony Gordon

Anthony Gordon’s disciplinary record at Newcastle has been pretty squeaky clean until now. The timing of his outburst couldn’t have been worse.

The current rules explain that a three-match suspension from a red card can be served over any domestic competitions – the Premier League, Carabao Cup or FA Cup.

However, Jim White believes suspensions should strictly stay to the competition where the card was shown.

Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “If Newcastle were playing in a Champions League tie this week, Gordon would be in there and playing.

“To me it feels very harsh, it’s a different tournament.

“I would understand that if they progressed in the FA Cup and he’s out of the next round. If they don’t progress, then he can be hit elsewhere.”

However, White’s proposal was immediately shut down by Simon Jordan and Martin Keown, who pointed out that FA Cup suspensions could then carry over to the following year.

Anthony Gordon just one of several Carabao Cup issues

Rewind to the 2023 Carabao Cup final, and Howe was left scrambling for options when Nick Pope was sent off in the lead-up to the Wembley trip.

History has repeated itself, and Howe must be wondering what he has done to deserve such rotten luck.

On top of Gordon’s suspension, Lewis Hall will miss the Carabao Cup final after Newcastle confirmed his ankle injury will see him miss the rest of the season.

READ MORE: Eddie Howe’s record vs Liverpool will worry Newcastle United fans ahead of Carabao Cup final

Sven Botman is also expected to miss the final, meaning Newcastle will be without three of their best players when facing an in-form Liverpool side at Wembley.

Newcastle’s strongest XI for the final now looks considerably weaker than it did a few weeks ago. The trophy is still there to be won, but hope is quickly draining from Toon fans.