Don’t say Gary Neville didn’t warn you.
When Sadio Mane was shown a straight red card after his high boot tackle on Ederson during Liverpool’s 5-0 defeat to Manchester City, Gary Neville argued the challenge wasn’t worthy of the punishment.
After the game, he predicted that the incident would create confusion for referees going forward regarding how high-footed fouls should be punished.
He claimed that regardless of what side of the argument everyone fell on the Mane foul, it would open up a can of worms in terms of officiating.
The red yesterday irrespective of which view you have will result in total confusion in the coming weeks and months on high boot challenges
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) September 10, 2017
Remarkably, he has been proving to be correct not once, but twice as Newcastle’s Matt Ritchie only received a yellow card after colliding with Alfie Mawson in a very similar incident.
Ritchie quickly pleaded his case to the referee that he was going for the ball, and he remained on the pitch to see his team score a 1-0 away win on Sunday.
Then, on Monday night, West Ham’s Winston Reid was involved in another similar incident with Huddersfield’s Steve Mounie. During a midfield tussle, Reid’s boot connected with Mounie’s face. It was unintentional, Mounie required a little bit of attention, but was able to play on.
No card was shown by the referee.
🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/f20SVCdx21— Gary Neville (@GNev2) September 11, 2017
Oh mate. Get the rule out. It leaves the ref nowhere to go. Endangered a player with Excessive force !! 😂 https://t.co/JeProbkR2B
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) September 11, 2017
Just as Neville predicted, a lot of fans were left wondering what exactly Mane did that was so different.
Another one gets away with it… Reid kicks a Huddersfield player in the face and no red card. Wasn't intentional but neither was Manè.
— Zac Bell (@ZacLBell) September 11, 2017
Is that not a red card for Winston reid? Surely if Manes was a red, so is that? 😂😂😂
— Paddy Sloan (@paddysloan96) September 11, 2017
Where's the red card for Winston Reid there? @FA @premierleague
— Dave Harrison (@DHarrison200) September 11, 2017
Winston reid red card, no? Applicable for @LFC only @premierleague?
— Hasan (@hasanshahbaz19) September 11, 2017
Mounie may have felt a little hard done by, but at least he emerged from the situation relatively unscathed.
The same cannot be said for Ederson, whose face bears a nasty mark from Mane’s boot.
Why "he had to go for the ball" is wrong. Player's right to safety is greater than the right to do anything to try and kick the ball. pic.twitter.com/DJhDUfrA2J
— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) September 11, 2017
Ouch.
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