Mariners Sub’s Early Red Card: Nightmare Start to F3 Derby Just Eight Minutes In

In a dramatic turn of events during Saturday night’s F3 Derby against Newcastle Jets, Central Coast Mariners defender Storm Roux was shown a red card just eight minutes after entering the fray as a substitute.

Roux stepped onto the field to replace the injured Mikael Doka in the 31st minute at McDonald Jones Stadium, but his appearance was cut short when he was dismissed for elbowing Jets midfielder Callum Timmins in the chest.

The incident unfolded as both players grappled near the halfway line. Once they regained their feet, Roux reacted to Timmins’ contact by swinging an elbow into the midfielder’s midsection.

“That sort of behaviour is completely unnecessary,” commented co-commentator Daniel McBreen during the Network 10 coverage.

“It’s blatantly obvious—he’s not even trying to hide it. The cameraman was right there, and so was the fourth official,” he added.

During the half-time show on Network 10, former striker for both Central Coast and Newcastle, Roy O’Donovan, suggested that Timmins may have attempted to stamp on Roux’s hand, provoking his reaction.

“With VAR in play, players can’t get away with anything,” O’Donovan noted.

“It looks like Storm Roux believed Timmins had a little stamp on his hand as he got up… he then reacted by elbowing him, and VAR had no option but to intervene. It was a clear red card,” he explained.

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