Campbell red will remain, says ref Durkin

Referee Paul Durkin insists he will not reconsider his decision to send off Arsenal’s Sol Campbell at the weekend, claiming he had “no alternative”.

The England defender hauled down Southampton’s Agustin Delgado to concede a penalty during Arsenal’s 3-2 defeat at St Mary’s Stadium, an offence Durkin ruled to be a professional foul.

Campbell will now be suspended for Arsenal’s trip to Manchester United in December, but Durkin defended his decision after fierce criticism from Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.

Durkin told the Daily Mail: “The fact that he was the last defender meant I had to apply the law, which was that in my opinion he denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

“I had no alternative.”