Former head of referees says yellow card was ‘insufficient’ for high challenge on Florian Wirtz during Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Brighton on Saturday
Brighton’s Diego Gomez should have been dismissed for his dangerous tackle on Florian Wirtz, according to former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett. The flashpoint happened just before the interval during Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Arne Slot’s team had taken the lead through Hugo Ekitike within just 46 seconds of kick-off. They spent the remainder of the opening period attempting to extend that lead, and with moments remaining before the break, Wirtz became involved in a crucial moment on the edge of the visitors’ box.
The £116million signing regained possession to maintain Liverpool’s offensive momentum but received a wayward boot to his stomach from opposing forward Gomez, leaving Wirtz visibly hurt. Pawson’s initial verdict was a yellow card, which VAR upheld.
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Without sending the referee to reassess the incident via the pitchside monitor, the Premier League Match Centre X account said: “The referee’s call of yellow card to Gomez was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the challenge on Wirtz deemed not to be with excessive force and not serious foul play.”
Nevertheless, this was an incorrect assessment and Gomez ought to have received his marching orders, former refereeing supremo Hackett has revealed to Football Insider.
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“The Brighton player had every opportunity to pull out of this foul, and there is no question that the boot was leading at pace, waist-high, and fulfilled, in my opinion, serious foul play,” he said.
“The yellow card for this challenge was insufficient, and this incident should have seen the intervention of VAR, and a second look for the referee, who may, from his view, have had his vision of the incident compromised by the offending player.”
The verdict ultimately did not affect the final result as Ekitike netted his second strike of the encounter on the hour mark, with Liverpool securing a 2-0 victory at Anfield.
Nevertheless, it required considerable effort to contain Brighton’s full eleven and preserve their clean sheet.
Hackett wasn’t alone in believing the incorrect decision was reached in that moment. During Sky Sports‘ Soccer Saturday, pundit Tim Sherwood said: “I think it’s a red card, I honestly do.
“I just think Wirtz wins it before him, he knows it. He’s not even there to go and win the ball.”
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean then supported this view. He said: “I think it’s red. The ball’s gone up…The only thing I would say that they might look at is as he’s gone up to come down, he may have caught him on the way down.
“There’s no real force in it, but his foot shouldn’t be that high. He’s caught him in the stomach then he’s kind of come down into his body. So, for me, it’s more red than yellow.”
