Arsene Wenger accuses Liverpool midfielder Fabinho of cheating against Inter Milan

Speaking to beIN Sports as quoted by Metro, Arsene Wenger has accused Liverpool midfielder Fabinho of ‘cheating’ in order to get Inter Milan forward Alexis Sanchez sent off. The Chilean international was dismissed for a second yellow after a challenge on the Brazilian midfielder.

Coming into the game against Liverpool last night, Inter knew they had to overcome a 2-0 deficit to knock the Reds out and move into the next round of the Champions League. Although the Nerazzurri won on the night thanks to a solitary goal from Lautaro Martinez, it was not enough to knock the Merseysiders out of the competition.

Sanchez had already been booked in the first half for a horrible tackle on Liverpool playmaker Thiago Alcantara. Martinez scored in the 61st minute, and just when Inter were starting to dream of a comeback, the Chilean did Liverpool a huge favour by getting himself sent off.

Although the former Manchester United man touched the ball, he caught Fabinho on his follow-through and the referee had no second thoughts in dipping for his pocket and giving Sanchez his marching order.

Arsene Wenger, who has managed Sanchez back at Arsenal called out Fabinho for cheating and going over the top with his reactions to get the Inter forward his second yellow.

“Fabinho , he was cheating, he made more of it.”

“Maybe he had pain and he was touched by Sanchez. You cannot say it was completely fake.”

Wenger went on to reiterate that the Chilean had played the ball and did not deserve to be sent off.

“But he didn’t want to hurt him, he played first the ball.”

Whether intentional or not, a poor challenge is just that no honey coating can change that fact. The simple fact of the matter remains that Sanchez should have been sent off and the referee did just that.

Was Fabinho cheating?

Absolutely not. Contrary to Wenger’s opinion, the Brazilian midfielder was not cheating or doing anything ungainly. Alexis knew very well that he was on a yellow already after his horrendous tackle on Thiago and he had no business flying in as he did against Fabinho.

Wenger is with his right to defend his former player but that does not mean Fabinho was ‘cheating’. If what the Brazilian did was indeed cheating, then you could look at a lot of other players in yesterday’s clash and ask them the same thing.

There can also be a counterargument that Sanchez should not have been on the pitch long enough last night to even be able to challenge Fabinho. On some other day, with some other referee, the Chilean could have received a straight red for his ridiculous first-half tackle on Thiago.

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Many may be of the opinion that Sanchez was unlucky to be sent off last night, but the truth is he was lucky to stay on as long as he did. Fabinho could have been in pain, following the challenge from the Inter forward and accusing him of ‘cheating’ is utterly baseless.