Sean Dyche was perplexed by referee Craig Pawson’s decision not to book Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté for his trip on Beto in today’s Merseyside derby.
The French defender was on a yellow card after entering the official’s notebook early in the second half, but when he caught Everton’s Portuguese striker with an outstretched leg, Pawson chose to give simply a free-kick, dismissing calls for him to be sent off.
If the referee had booked Konaté again, the clubs would have been level at 10 men after Ashley Young was sent out late in the first half for two bookable offenses of his own.
As it was, Jürgen Klopp quickly substituted Konaté, and Liverpool went on to win 2-0, with Mohamed Salah scoring the game-winning penalty… But not before Video Assistant Referee David Coote recommended Pawson to go to the pitch-side monitor to reverse his own decision not to penalize Michael Keane for handball.
Dyche was booked during the game for protesting from the sidelines, and he later conveyed his displeasure to the cameras.
“My take on it is: it’s the bizarre nature of the modern game,” he added of Pawson’s decision not to show Konaté a second yellow card. “No one in the stadium knows how they got 11 on the field at 0-0…
“Their manager certainly didn’t know because he immediately removed the player when he realized.”
“It obviously changed the game.” That’s how it goes. ‘What’s going on there?’ said the entire stadium. Their manager is a good judgment, so I figured I’d let him go. That is sufficient proof.
“It was incredible and perplexing to me.” I’m not sure how I received a yellow card for basically gesticulating like the rest of the stadium. That is completely absurd.
“The referee told me it wasn’t a bookable offense.” There are fair-minded football fans who would be surprised if that wasn’t a second yellow.
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
“I watched the replay, and the referee says ‘no chance, no chance’ within a second.” You’d think he’d get a yellow if he’d given himself 10 seconds.
“I shouldn’t be punished for saying that.” If the officials are off, we should be able to speak freely.”
Everton’s players were also angry and frustrated after the game. Jordan Pickford did his best to avoid a fine by referring to Pawson’s scandalous decision, while Jarrad Branthwaite, who is not generally outspoken due to his younger age, was also critical of the match.
“We gave it our all, worked hard, and decisions definitely didn’t go our way — no shock there,” Pickford added before being asked which judgments he was referring to.
“It’s not rocket science to figure out,” said the keeper. “I believe the entire world will be aware. We can’t say anything because you’ll just get it done regardless. A little more conversation would be wonderful, as would less arrogance.”
“Beto went past Konaté, who is already on a yellow,” Branthwaite explained. He knocks him out, and it’s over. I’m not sure how this isn’t a second yellow card.
“He’s gone right through the pitch; it’s one v one; it’s a blatant yellow but he hasn’t given it so far.”
“If he gets sent off, it’s back to a level playing field and probably a different game but we’re down to 10 men and against it all game because of the decision he hasn’t given to award the second yellow for Konaté and we’re up against it for the rest of the match.”
The criticism continued in the media, with ex-referee Mike Dean telling Sky Sports:
“I believe it is a second yellow. You have to be consistent because you sent off a player for two fouls in the first half. He completed two in less than ten minutes.
“I guarantee you [Pawson] will get substituted.”
Stephen Warnock, a former Liverpool defender turned commentator, was even more candid.
“It’s terrible from the ref; a very cynical challenge from Konate.” Already dressed in yellow, he pulls back Beto’s shirt.
“A stinker of a decision.”
Leave a Reply