Premier League’s ‘third man rule’ has Gary Neville baffled after Ruben Dias and Mario Lemina bookings

GARY NEVILLE was left baffled by the Premier League’s “third man rule” after Ruben Dias and Mario Lemina bookings for dissent.

Lemina was sent off in Wolves’ 2-1 win over Southampton with his second booking due to dissent.

PAMario Lemina was sent off against Southampton after getting a second yellow for dissent[/caption]

Similarly, Manchester City’s Dias was cautioned for questioning the official’s decision following a foul on Kevin de Bruyne.

The FA and ruled bosses the PGMOL have clamped down on dissent this season.

And Wolves captain Ruben Neves appeared to suggest Lemina was carded due to being the third man to run up to ref Jarred Gillett.

Neves told the BBC: “You really want to know what he told me?

“So he told me there were two players running to him and because Mario was the third one he gave him a yellow card.

“So now we go and check the rules, if there is any.”

Dias was also booked after being the third to complain about a challenge on De Bruyne following after Ilkay Gundogan and Jack Grealish.

It ties into the theory that the third man to run over to contest a ref’s decision will automatically be booked.

Gary Neville told Sky Sports: “Surely it should be the first man.

“If you’re the one that’s instigated it, and then your team-mates have followed in, it’s got to be the first man that gets booked not the third.

“What happens to the fourth, if there’s a fourth that attends the scene?”

Ex-Premier League official Dermot Gallagher denied the “third man” rule after Lemina and Dias’ bookings.

He said on Sky Sports News: “The difference with Dias is he comes an awfully long distance to make his point.

“That’s what the referee is upset about there and it’s nothing about being the third man there, it’s all about players surrounding the referees.

“It has been reported to the FA and now they want to take more action.”

Ruben Dias booked against Aston VillaRex