Awoniyi bagged a red card as Coventry won 5-0

Nigeria international Taiwo Awoniyi on Sunday received his first red card in the Premier League.

Awoniyi, who plays for Coventry in the Premier League, was sent off for elbowing Maxim De Cuyper as Coventry were thrashed 5-0 at home by Brighton on Sunday.

With Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues trailing 2-0 thanks to goals from Charalampos Kostoulas and Malick Yalcouye, things went from bad to worse when Awoniyi was shown a straight red card eight minutes into the second half for violent behavior after catching De Cuyper in the face while challenging an aerial ball.

Referee Tony Harrington immediately reached for his red card, with replays showing Awoniyi made clear contact with his arm.

VAR checked and upheld Harrington’s decision on the field. Premier League Match Center later revealed the exchange between the officials, with assistant Harrington observing: “He caught him in the face with his elbow.”

Awoniyi now faces a three-match ban – a standard punishment for acts of violence – meaning he will miss Coventry’s trip to former club Nottingham Forest next Saturday, Tuesday’s Carabao Cup third-round tie against Aston Villa and the Premier League meeting with Newcastle after the international break.

His compatriot Frank Onyeka was also withdrawn in the 73rd minute after appearing to suffer an injury. This is his second appearance in the Premier League this season.