Merseyside derby summed up issues with refereeing standards

22 October 2023 , 21:30

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Ashley Young was sent off against Liverpool (Image: Paul Greenwood/REX/Shutterstock)

If ever there was a decision that shows the issue of refereeing standards, it was during the Merseyside derby.

Ashley Young had already been dismissed for two yellow cards, and Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate looked certain to follow for two near identical offences soon after half-time. For Everton, it was “blatant”.

But match official Craig Pawson decided instantly there was “no chance” it was a yellow…and at 0-0 the contest swung inexorably in the home side’s favour, with Reds boss Jurgen Klopp adding almost comic timing by instantly whipping Konate.

Afterwards, there was frustration, not at the decision in itself, but with the inconsistency. As young defender Jarrad Branthwaite explained, the referee seemed to apply double standards to his decisions.

“Beto went past Konate, he’s on a yellow already, it’s a clear second yellow, I don’t know how it is not a second yellow,” he said. “He’s going right through the middle of the pitch, it’s 1v1, it’s a blatant yellow but he hasn’t given it. And exactly, that’s the problem - there’s no consistency throughout the refereeing.

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“We’re up against it for the rest of the match but If they get a sending off it is back to a level playing field and it can be a different game…but we are down to 10 men and against it all game because of his decision not to award the second yellow to Konate.”

Pawson seemed the freeze on his decision-making throughout what was actually a surprisingly tame derby, but Everton left Anfield feeling particularly mistreated, as skipper for the afternoon James Tarkowski explained.

Ashley Young was performing well before he was given his marching orders (PETER POWELL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

“For me, it didn't feel like a real fair game. Their lad (Konate) should have been sent off and they were dragging him off the pitch to save him. It is disappointing not so much in our performance but the game. I got booked in the first half for fouling a lad in midfield and the referee said, 'You are out of position and fouled him so it is a yellow card.'

“Konate is out of position, fouls our lad and it is not a yellow card, so for me where is the consistency? If he is saying that is why he has booked me, I expect the same in the second half, and that's where it doesn't feel like a fair game.”

David Maddock