Author: Soorya G
Premier League giants Liverpool have filed an appeal with the English Football Association to re-examine the red card received by their new signing Alexis Mac Allister. The Argentine World Cup winner was sent off during Liverpool’s 3-1 win at the iconic
Liverpool 3-1 at the iconic Anfield Stadium
in his second Premier League game for the club, after being signed from Brighton and Hove Albion for 35 million euros. Jurgen Klopp was furious with the decision to send off the midfield star and didn’t hold back in his criticism of the referees involved.
Mac Allister was shown a straight red card at the start of the second half against Bournemouth for a clumsy tackle on Cherries star Ryan Christie. As a result of the straight red card, Mac Allister could be suspended for the next three games, a decision that Klopp called “harsh”, adding that his team was badly damaged in the game itself as a result of the decision.
Legendary former England striker Gary Lineker also backed the Argentine, calling the referee’s decision “senseless” and stating that the challenge deserved nothing close to the punishment he ended up receiving.
Curiously, this wasn’t the only controversial decision made during the match, as Liverpool were awarded a penalty in the first half. Mohamed Salah’s penalty was saved by the PFF, but it was taken on the rebound. However, the decision to award the penalty angered many Bournemouth fans. Both controversial decisions were made by on-field referee Thomas Bramall, with the VAR opting not to intervene on either occasion, as part of the latest resolution to “not interfere as much as possible”.
It’s worth remembering that a similar course of events led to the dismissal of the contingent of referees in charge of Manchester United’s game against Wolves in the opening week, after André Onana’s apparently reckless challenge didn’t result in a penalty. It remains to be seen whether the authorities will take note of the issue in question and possibly introduce other interventions.