Chris Sutton says Nick Pope made a 'terrible decision' and is not 'unlucky' to have been shown a red card during Newcastle United's 2-0 defeat against Liverpool on Saturday.
Pope received the first dismissal of his career after handling the ball outside the penalty area when attempting to foil Mohamed Salah at his feet.
His red card means that the England international will miss Newcastle's trip to Wembley to face Manchester United on Sunday.
Martin Dubravka will also be ineligible for the game after playing for Man United during the earlier rounds of the competition. Although Sutton sympathises with Pope over missing the final, he insists that it was the correct decision.
READ MORE: Newcastle owners 'not bullied' on £48m plan with clear transfer 'identity' and summer prediction
"It wasn't unlucky," Sutton told Radio 5 Live. "We all feel sorry for Nick Pope because he seems like a thoroughly nice guy and we all want him to play in the final, of course we do.
"It was just sheer panic. It was a terrible decision. Goalkeepers cannot be trusted other than Ederson when coming out like that."
Eddie Howe only has ex-Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius, and Mark Gillespie available for selection ahead of the final. Karius is yet to play a single minute for the Magpies, while Gillespie hasn't featured for Newcastle since 2020.
Ex-England goalkeeper Robert Green disagreed with Sutton and believes the rulebook should allow Pope to feature at Wembley. However, Green added that Pope would've let Salah continue his run towards goal in hindsight.
"It was awkward and you just look at how it came about and it was really unfortunate," Green said. "I was thinking about it through my career and you look at the circumstances in the game and you cannot think like this.
"I got the fastest ever sending off for England and the feedback when I get sent off was, 'let him score'. There's only 10 minutes gone in the game, let him score, we can comeback with 11 players.
"Hindsight is very easy and in the moment it's nigh-on impossible but your already 2-0 down just let it be three."
READ NEXT
Newcastle star who has proven 'boo boys' wrong and needs Bruno Guimaraes to keep 'progressing'
Allan Saint-Maximin told it's 'down to him' if he wants to remain part of Newcastle 'juggernaut'
Kieran Trippier insists Newcastle 'not cheating' as Manchester United family show true colours
Erik ten Hag copies Eddie Howe mantra as Newcastle benefit from Manchester United distraction
Callum Wilson's frank response to Liverpool top-four question after Newcastle defeat
