Dermot Gallagher believes that one player was ‘really lucky’ with a refereeing decision in Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Ipswich on Saturday.
During the goalless first half, Wes Burns was already on a yellow card when he fought possession with Diogo Jota, obstructing the Reds striker before collapsing and punching the ball away with his arm while the play was still ongoing.
Arne Slot and the LFC coaching staff called for Tim Robinson to issue another booking, claiming it was a premeditated handball, but the 29-year-old avoided additional punishment.
Gallagher told Sky Sports’ Ref Watch on Monday that the Ipswich player was fortunate not to face disciplinary action as a result of the incident.
The former top-flight official said: “I believe it’s a handball; he’s really lucky. He makes a clear swipe at the ball. He also gets lucky since he is not stopping a promising attack, as another Ipswich player approaches. “The covering player saves him from receiving a yellow card.”
Slot was seen making a few inquiries to fourth official Keith Stroud as the teams made their way to the locker rooms at halftime, which we can presumably presume was in reference to the Burns incident.
TNT Sports analyst Peter Crouch also believed that the Ipswich attacker would have been booked in that situation if he hadn’t previously received a yellow card, a scenario that may frequently play on a referee’s mind.
Although we don’t appreciate seeing players be unfairly removed for minor second bookings, what happened in the 40th minute at Portman Road did not fall into that category.
Whatever about obstructing Jota, Burns knew exactly what he was doing when he swatted the ball away with his arm, and he may consider himself fortunate not to have been sent for an early bath by Robinson.
Fortunately, it didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things because Liverpool finally won comfortably, but if it had been a draw or a one-goal home win, Slot would have had valid grounds to complain afterwards.
