Jurgen Klopp and Ryan Mason during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield.
What goes around comes around. At the end of the season, things balance out again. And other shots like this say the same thing.
Whenit comes to big decisions in football, there are fluctuations and detours. Sometimes you feel like the world is against you and everything is going wrong. Then you can spend another week in trouble and make a big decision in your favor.
With the arrival of the Video Assistant Referee, many football fans thought that controversial decisions would be a thing of the past.
However, we have more debates about referees and VAR calls than before technology entered our favorite sport.
Saturday’sbig match between Spurs and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium reinforced this view, with a number of important decisions discussed.
As far as I’m concerned, the first is not in question. Curtis Jones’ red card for a high tackle on Yves Bissouma was rightfully a red card.
The second is clearly the most controversial.
Because it was controversial because it was actually the wrong word, it was a bad decision by VAR. Luis Diaz had a goal disallowed for offside on the pitch.
The VAR, who thought the onside call was onside, very quickly said “Check Complete” as he could see it was onside and the match continued. The mistake was made, play continued and it was not possible to call it back – a ridiculous rule in itself.
Then there was the second red card – for Diogo Jota.
He received a very, very severe warning because his knee came into contact with Destiny Udogie’s foot, causing his other foot to hit, causing him to fall to the ground. This was deemed worthy of a yellow card.
Then, somewhat stupidly, Jota decided to step in a few minutes later and foul the same man, which resulted in a second yellow card and a red card.
Liverpool released a statement saying they will “explore the range of options available as there is a clear need for escalation and resolution”. Whatever that means. Perhaps manager Jürgen Klopp should follow suit and “take care of other things”.
Like perhaps the disciplinary record of his club, knowing that the two Reds have already experienced four expulsions this season.
Last year, Klopp asked then-Spurs interim boss Ryan Mason to ‘take care of other things’ after Mason complained Jota should have seen red for kicking Oliver Skipp to the face during a high tackle, where the Englishman had to be stitched down.
VAR did not intervene that day and Jota scored the winning goal in a 4–3 victory.
