How’s this not a red? This was a shocker
SIMON MIGNOLET should have been sent off for his first-half assault on Mame Biram Diouf in Liverpool’s win at Stoke. The tackle alone warranted a red card, while others felt the denial of a goalscoring opportunity was the reason he had to go. Martin Atkinson, perhaps the most experienced referee on the select group list, decided that neither was valid and issued just a yellow card. Looking at the tackle it is impossible not to conclude that the speed of the tackle, the height of the boot and Mignolet’s reckless attitude must have endangered Diouf’s safety. Refereeing standards have been pretty high but there have been some awful decisions this season. Here are three other shockers...
1 Referee: LEE MASON Southampton v West Ham (Aug 19)
West Ham’s Mark Noble somehow escaped after a deliberate, studs-led tackle on Mario Lemina. It appeared to be retribution for Noble as Lemina had just caught Marko Arnautovic with a leading arm.
2Referee: GRAHAM SCOTT Leicester v Man City (Nov 18)
As Jamie Vardy raced through on goal, Vincent Kompany brought him down to prevent a clear goalscoring opportunity.
3 Referee: NEIL SWARBRICK Man Utd v Brighton (Nov 25)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic could have been straight back on the treatment table after a wild two-footer from Shane Duffy, who was only booked.