Vardy seems unlikely to be punished for Mustafi clash
JAMIE Vardy is set to avoid retrospective punishment for the incident that incensed Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, but the Gunners have appealed Eddie Nketiah’s dismissal.
Nketiah was shown a straight red card just four minutes after he entered play for what Rodgers described as a “horrific challenge”, the Gunners youngster planting his studs on James Justin’s knee in a 50-50.
After initially showing a yellow card, Nketiah’s punishment was upgraded to a red by referee Chris Kavanagh following consultation with the VAR screen pitchside.
Now, Arsenal are appealing the decision and the three-match ban Nketiah has been given.
However, the FA will not be getting involved in a first-half incident involving Vardy and Arsenal centreback Shkodran Mustafi.
Vardy’s boot caught the German international’s face as they fell to the floor following a collision, and Arteta claimed it was worthy of dismissal.
“What I am saying is if you review incidents of that type you should review them all.” Arteta said.
“If Eddie’s is a red card then for sure the other is a red card.
“If (Nketiah) can be a red card then Leicester has to play with 10 men after 42 minutes – that has to be a red card as well.”
Pleasingly for City, reports suggest the FA are not planning to look closer at the incident, meaning the number nine will be free to play against Bournemouth this Sunday.
Rodgers was bemused it was even a talking point.
“To be honest I can’t even remember that one,” he said.
“I haven’t seen it, to be honest, I didn’t even think about looking at it afterwards.
“Obviously, Mikel will have his feelings on it but like I said with Eddie, it wasn’t intentional but dangerous to go in on the stretch with his studs up.
“I think when you see it like he (Kavanagh) has, it was a clear red. The kid is just stretching but it ended up being an horrific challenge so was absolutely deserving of a red card.”
The Vardy-Mustafi coming together split pundits.
Former Gunners striker Ian Wright said: “That’s just purely an accident, that. You can see Jamie Vardy has just slipped. He’s not trying to hit him in the face. That’s accidental.”
But former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp said: “This is only one where Jamie Vardy can tell us if he’s meant to do him or not. It looks really nasty. They’ve obviously looked at it and thought that he hasn’t meant to do it.
“When you play football, you see legs and you see bodies. I don’t think I’ve ever played with a player that really wants to kick someone in the face.
“When you’re on the pitch, that doesn’t really enter your mind. I’d like to think he doesn’t mean it.
“But I can see what Mikel Arteta is saying because it looks really dangerous and he’s caught him in the face with his studs.”
BUT TV PUNDITS DIVIDED AFTER DEFENDER HIT BY STRIKER’S BOOT