PHC Zebras coach Kyle Lightbourne is set to appeal against referee Leroy Wilson?s decision to send him off for an offence he claims did not warrant a caution ? let alone a red card.

Lightbourne was sent off during Zebras? 2-1 loss to Devonshire Cougars at Devonshire Recreation Club last Friday night late in the second half for what Wilson perceived to be a deliberate handball.

And the former English professional footballer is appealing to the Bermuda Football Association (BFA) to have the decision overturned.

?I?ve taken a referee course before and so I know what is a sending off offence and what?s not. And the bottom line is that we do have to respect the ref?s decision at the end of the day. But sometimes they get it wrong,? Lightbourne said.

?I just think the ref made the wrong decision. And if a referee makes a wrong decision I think they should own up to making mistakes because we as players and coaches have to own up to making mistakes ? so why can?t they also own up to making a mistake.

?If football is going to improve, then we also need to have refereeing standards improve as well.?

It was originally thought Lightbourne had been booked in the first half for a handball in the box. But this was not the case as team-mate Jevone Sealey was booked instead. Lightbourne received a straight red card for handing the ball ? not for committing a second bookable offence. ?Kwame Steede (Cougars? captain) was less than a foot away from where the ball was being kicked towards me and it hit my hand,? he explained.

?The ball hit my hand and there was absolutely no intent to handle it. A penalty was awarded and we had to live with the decision, but common sense should have prevailed in this instance. And funny enough I?m watching the game between Portsmouth and Manchester City on TV today (Saturday) and the ball was kicked against a player?s arm and the referee waved play on.?

Lightbourne received his marching orders at a crucial stage of the match with Zebras staging a late revival.

?It was a 50-50 ball and Kwame (Steede) got there first and poked it past me,? he recalled.

?I stuck out my leg but didn?t catch the player or deliberately handle the ball. And it wasn?t even a cautionable offence because they (Cougars) would?ve still had possession.

?Half of my players didn?t even know I got sent off. All I said was ?you got to be joking? to the ref and ran off the field. This whole thing really just baffles me. . .it really does.? It was the first time the former national coach has been sent off in a match at a domestic club level. But Lightbourne is determined to set the record straight.

?I am in the process of appealing against it and I?ve already spoken to Lee Holder (BFA chairman of referees) who was at the match,? he added.

?I stated my case to him right after the match, and I am going to submit my letter to the Association and then go from there because I take pride in not getting yellow or red cards. And for someone to give you a straight red card for a ball hitting against your hand is a bit harsh.?

When contacted, Holder said: ?Kyle has a right to file an appeal under the normal appeal process. That?s all I can say at this time until he has actually appealed.?

Friday?s incident was also witnessed by United Soccer League (USL) vice-president Tim Holt, who was reportedly disturbed by the level of officiating during the Premier Division contest.

?He was looking to see how our officials react during matches, and wasn?t pleased with what he saw. He (Holt) thought the referee stopped the game at every opportunity he could,? Lightbourne said.

?The game was not a dirty one as there were hardly any tackles flying about. I thought the game was fairly contested.?