Romelu Lukaku can count his blessings after evading a certain red card and additional games on the sideline. The match officials missed it all together and a panel couldn’t reach an agreement.
Match officials have been poor to date. No consistency in any of the decisions made throughout the campaign. 50/50 challenges such as Sadio Manes boot to Edison’s face, gets a three-match ban and had an appeal by Liverpool fall on deaf ears.
What adds to the dilemma of the challenge and the sending off, both managers agreed, it was a bit harsh the decision. This insinuates the league has a no-nonsense policy and are clamping down on misconduct and foul play off the ball.
In this case, the team on the top end of the table claimed the benefit of the doubt and the team experiencing a good run of games fell victim to bad officiating of a match. All of the mentioned offences were missing during this match apparently.
To rub salt in the wound of every Seagull over at Old Trafford – the ref and linesmen lost their 20/20 vision once again at a crucial time. A phantom corner that United took full advantage of.
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Romelu Lukaku’s luck in the decision made:
As reported by SkySports, the offender’s actions were analysed by a panel of three men due to the match officials inability to see things on the pitch they were officiating. The men could not reach an agreement and therefore had to dismiss the case altogether.
When in doubt chuck it out!
Sounds like the perfect system if you’re the big Belgian striker. Why perfect you ask? Oh well, why would the Premier League want Man United’s record signing and Jose’s leading man missing one of the most important matches this season?
Taken from SkySports:
"“It was referred to a three-man panel of former officials, which has to find a unanimous decision if a player is to be charged.“However, Sky Sports News understands that the panel could not agree that an offence was committed and Lukaku therefore avoids what could have been a three-game ban for violent conduct.“The December 10 derby clash with Manchester City was among the games Lukaku could have missed had he been sanctioned.”"
Jose Mourinho the victim this time:
Give the Man United manager half the chance to have a go at the men who run the game in black – he will stop at nothing and let them know how bad a job they’ve done when missing decisions.
Ask him this time and he will not have seen anything wrong with the misconduct by a player who has demonstrated frustration before in previous matches. Mourinho and other managers will never admit to their own players sending off.
Every cheat counts. Every stroke of luck – taken advantage of by Man United & Man City.