English Premier League: The plague of diving hits the Reds once again
The controversial moments were ripe in the Premier League during the last Matchday before the end of the year. Liverpool, right in the thick of all things penalties and fouls.
Between the two teams taking the chargers at the top and leading the pack, I can’t really decide whose fixture had more controversy than the other. In Man City’s match a moment that could proved vital to the result and whether City got back to winning ways or not.
The opposing manager thought the same thing and felt his team was undone by the referee. This was one moment in their clash the others came in Liverpool’s thrashing over Arsenal at Anfield. Two penalties awarded to the Reds by match official, Michael Oliver.
I only ask one question… Did the two offences really matter with the game going in one direction? Oh well, could have changed things, who knows. Anyway, this is where the whole “Liverpool are divers” came to life.
Mind you, where this comes from is not even the manager who took the loss on the night. No, as he still refuses to blame the match official for the bad decision-making by his men. Although there’s been no blame from the Gunners’ manager, Klopp has still have to come out defending his Egyptian winger.
This stems from the words exchanged between Arsenal defender, Sokratis Papastathopoulos. Live and direct the player displayed his discomfort with Salah and his efforts to get awarded a penalty.
Taken from Sky Sports:
"“Do we need blood for a proper penalty? I think no. In that moment, if you don’t touch Mo and he makes the next step and shoots – and we know he’s pretty good at that – these are the situations.“I haven’t seen it back (with Sokratis) and I have no clue about what happened around it but the ref really was close to it.“We don’t have divers and that was not a dive. The other one is not a dive. The ref decides it.”"
Next. A star attacker on his way to Stamford Bridge. dark
The point to it all…
There is never going to be everybody on one side of a decision. It will always be a 50/50 split when its a 50/50 call for the officials of the match. Sometimes even so for offsides and cards handed out, each time there are some given that are wrong.
The importance of VAR is there so for now human error needs to be tolerated. The only time we can all agree on a decision is when it’s as clear as a slide from behind with no ball on the victims feet.