Baggies relief as Hegazi cleared to play
ALBION centre-back Ahmed Hegazi has escaped punishment after the FA chose not to mount a violent conduct charge against the Egyptian defender.
Hegazi appeared to punch Danny Ings in the stomach after a challenge during the 2-2 draw with Liverpool at The Hawthorns on Saturday.
The second-half incident was not spotted by referee Stuart Attwell, nor was it included in his match report.
A three-man panel of former referees reviewed footage of the clash, but found no cause to prosecute the Albion man.
Hegazi would have been hit with a minimum three-match ban had he been charged and found guilty of violent conduct. Such a sanction would have ruled him out for the rest of Albion’s season.
The news will have been a relief for Darren Moore, who has started Hegazi in each of his three matches in caretaker charge.
Moore was asked about the incident immediately after the match.
“I’ve heard about it now from the TV crews,” he said. “I didn’t see it at the time. I was that engrossed in the game I didn’t see the incident.”
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was furious after his side surrendered a two-goal lead in the final ten minutes.
The German blamed the dry playing surface and accused Attwell of siding with Albion on big decisions. Not just with the Hegazi incident, but also a penalty appeal when Craig Dawson bundled over Ings as he chased a loose ball inside the box.
“We are very respectful of Liverpool and very respectful of Jurgen Klopp,” Moore said. “I think he’s a fantastic manager, an excellent human being. In terms of the decisions, you’d have to speak to the referee.
“I thought the referee had a good game, played the game well and it was two teams not holding back.
“It was two teams going all out to try and win a game of football.”
Moore also disagreed with Klopp about the pitch.
The Baggies boss, who has collected five points from his first three games since taking over from Alan Pardew, refuted suggestions the grass had been underwatered as a ploy to slow Liverpool down.
“Number one, I was focused on the game and, number two, we watered the pitch before the game but it was hot, red hot,” he said.
“It’s different now the weather’s changing. It was a red-hot afternoon.
“The pitch is there for both teams.”
Albion, eight points from safety with three games to play, now turn their attention to Saturday’s trip to Newcastle United, knowing they need to win to have any chance of staying up.
The Baggies, however, have lost only one of their last 15 league fixtures at St James’ Park to the Baggies.