Danny Murphy said he felt Mamadou Sakho was "a little bit unlucky" to be sent off in Crystal Palace's win against Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
The Frenchman was shown a straight red card in the 20th minute of the game for a challenge on Bournemouth's Adam Smith, with the former Liverpool man catching the defender on the knee, having made contact with the ball first.
Some fans and pundits were in disagreement over the decision, and that was the case in the Match of the Day studio too, with Murphy and Jermaine Jenas having differing views over the call made by referee Anthony Taylor to send off the Palace man.
"I thought he was a little bit unlucky, if I am honest," Murphy said, speaking on the BBC programme.
"I know the rules have changed a little bit now, and they are trying to protect players and I get that.
"But he gets a full contact on the ball. I would be disappointed getting sent off for that, I know he has caught him on the knee, but he has not straight legged him.
"I think it is a bit harsh, but I understand it."
However, fellow pundit Jermaine Jenas said that he felt the force of the challenge was a deciding factor for the referee.
"I was in the stadium and he went in with that force where you did wince a little bit, and I can understand why Anthony Taylor sent him off," he added.
Palace boss Roy Hodgson also admitted that it was a "fierce" challenge from the Eagles defender, although he said he felt that he could feel a little hard done by.
"I thought there was no malice in the challenge, but it was a fierce challenge. I think some time ago, those sort of challenges were part and parcel of the game, but in recent seasons the referees have also been asked to take into account the degree of aggression," Hodgson said.
"I can’t deny it was a strong, aggressive challenge, and so the referee has made the decision that he has had to take.
"You always feel a little hard done by in those situations, because the ball is there to be won and it was a brave and strong challenge by Mamadou Sakho."
The defender is now set to serve a three-match suspension as a result of the red card, starting with the trip to face bottom club Watford on Saturday.
