Jamie Vardy's first-half dismissal at bet365 Stadium on Saturday left Claudio Ranieri unusually angry, and the Italian tactician may do something about it.
Speaking after Leicester City fought back to claim a point in a chaotic Premier League fixture at Stoke City, Ranieri didn't rule out the possibility of the Foxes appealing Vardy's straight red card. The English forward received his marching orders in the 28th minute for a two-footed challenge on Mame Biram Diouf, as referee Craig Pawson noticed both of the striker's feet raised off the ground.
Look: Vardy sent off for 2-footed lunge on Stoke's Diouf
However, Pawson's decision was controversial. Although Vardy went airborne, the 29-year-old got the ball and appeared to lack malicious intent, resulting in a wide range of opinions over whether the referee made the correct decision.
"I don't know, let me think ... if it is possible, yes," Ranieri said when asked if he would consider appealing, according to the Press Association.
Ranieri also denied accusations of encouraging supporters to direct their anger towards Pawson, instead claiming that his words and gestures were aimed at calming the atmosphere following Vardy's dismissal. The manager was - given his usual tranquility - irate about the decision, walking over to the referee at the interval and subsequently gesturing to fans, appearing to urge them to voice their disapproval.
Pawson was subsequently shielded by stewards and there are suggestions a coin was thrown.
"I just wanted to show to our fans, our players, to 'keep going, stay with us,'" Ranieri said, according to the Guardian's Paul Doyle. He also claimed to not witness any coin-tossing, saying: "I didn't see that."
In addition to Vardy's red card, six of Leicester's players received yellow cards at Stoke.
