CHERRIES boss Andoni Iraola felt the red card shown to Philip Billing during his side’s 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest was “too harsh”.

With scores locked at 1-1 with six minutes of normal time remaining, referee Rebecca Welch dismissed Billing for a late challenge on Callum Hudson-Odoi.

The Forest winger had skipped past Billing, with the Dane resorting to fouling Hudson-Odoi to stop a dangerous counter.

However, it was deemed that the Cherries midfielder had done so in a dangerous fashion, with Welch showing Billing a red card.

Asked for his thoughts on the decision, Iraola replied: “He stopped a counter.

“But I think Phil, his feet is touching the grass - it’s not in the air or dangerous – he steps obviously on the opposition player.

“I knew that VAR was not going to overturn it because normally VAR doesn't get involved.

“Whenever there is contact, they respect the decision of the referee - with the exception of the other day.

“But I think it's too harsh.”

It is likely that Billing’s foul will be deemed violent conduct under FA rules, and as such, incur a three-match ban.

If that is the case, the Danish international would miss Cherries’ upcoming fixtures against Fulham, Newcastle United, and Manchester City.