The FA threaten Liverpool with a big fine amid outrage over controversial decisions
Liverpool Echo is reporting that the FA (the Football Association) is threatening Liverpool with a big fine. Liverpool lost 2-1 against Tottenham Hotspur in a controversy-filled Premier League game that saw multiple disciplinary bookings.
The Premier League game featured a series of controversial decisions that strongly favoured the home team, Spurs. Referee Simon Hooper and VAR official Darren England faced significant scrutiny for their handling of several major decisions. The FA is threatening a £25k fine, typically reserved for clubs that accumulate six bookings or more in a single game.
Liverpool picked up five books during the game which matches the criteria FA has set for a disciplinary fine. The Reds also saw two of their players sent off with red cards that are also very debatable. The Reds put in a heroic effort to salvage a point in the last 25 minutes of the game with nine men. Joel Matip’s inadvertent own goal in the 96th minute settled the game with Spurs victory.
PGMOL officially apologized, terming a goal from Luis Diaz‘s disallowed as a clear “human error.” VAR review ruled out the goal, and the explanations regarding the error have left many puzzled. At the time, the scoreline was 0-0, and the Reds were down to only ten men.
Curtis Jones was the first booking of the night in the 25th minute of the game after a VAR review. The English midfielder slipped over the ball and landed on Yves Bissouma unintentionally but the referee deemed it reckless enough. Alexis Mac Allister received a straightforward booking for an overstretched tackle in the first half. In the 65th minute, Mohamed Salah stole possession from Destiny Udogie, but the defender went down easily to earn a foul. The very soft decision prompted a strong reaction from the Egyptian, resulting in a booking.
Diogo Jota received a yellow card in the 68th minute after Udogie tripped himself and demanded the referee discipline the Portuguese. The Liverpool forward received another yellow within a minute to make things worse.
Andy Robertson received a booking for striking Pedro Porro’s face while the latter was ball-watching. The replay indicated that Porro was indeed looking at Robertson, but the referee remained consistent with his one-sided decision-making. Apart from Robertson, the referee issued separate bookings to Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and assistant manager Peter Krawietz before the final whistle.
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We think that no one associated with Liverpool cares about the fine as much as caring about dropping 3 points. Many Kopites and football experts have come to a consensus that this was one of the most unfair games. Liverpool are returning from Tottenham Hotspur stadium with their heads held high. They hope to put this nightmare behind them. If FA wants to make things right, they can start by forgetting this fine.
