Diogo Jota gives verdict on his red card controversy vs Tottenham Hotspur
Diogo Jota has claimed that his tackle on Oliver Skipp in the 81st minute of Liverpool’s Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday was ‘not great’.
The Portugal international was subbed on in the 63rd minute with the hopes of taking the game away from Spurs. Liverpool led 3-1 at that point.
Son Heung-min’s goal in the 77th minute gave Tottenham real belief, before Richarlison scored a header in stoppage time to make the scoreline 3-3. But between these two goals, there was a moment of controversy.
Jota reached in with a high boot on Skipp, who leaned his head into the Portugal international’s boot. It surely seemed unintentional and referee Paul Tierney showed him a yellow card.
What to make of it?
VAR David Coote did not overturn the decision. After the game, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers winger was asked to give his opinion on the tackle. He said, via BBC MOTD:
“It’s not a great tackle. I also touched the ball. I also think he gets his head down. It’s just brave from him. Unfortunately it’s a foot in the face. I saw the ref could see I didn’t mean it and it’s just football.”
Liverpool fans, like fans of any other club, would (and rightfully so) claim that the club have had decisions go against them in recent seasons that have been costly. This is just one of the decisions that has worked in our favour.
One can see why the referee only showed Jota a yellow card. Of course, the Portuguese star didn’t want to internationally hurt Skipp. It is natural to go for the ball in that way when the ball is up in the air like that. The referees decided it wasn’t a red and that is it.
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If the roles were reversed, Reds fans would have similarly been unhappy about the decision in the same way Spurs are right now. It’s just part and parcel of football and for Spurs, a convenient way to say they were robbed of a point.
