13 March 2024 , 16:11
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Gary Lineker has questioned why Sky Sports use referees as co-commentators as he confronted Micah Richards over the feature.
Sky employ Mike Dean to provide expert analysis of controversial decisions and he was used during Liverpool's draw with Manchester City on Sunday. He was heavily involved in the analysis of the Reds' late shout for a penalty.
Jeremy Doku appeared to kick Alexis Mac Allister in the chest, with referee Michael Oliver waving away the shouts for a spot-kick. VAR Stuart Attwell also checked the incident, though quickly cleared Doku.
Many viewers were left feeling a penalty should have been awarded, though Dean failed to committ to either viewpoint. And that left Lineker confused as to what his role actually is at Sky.
"What is it with Sky and this co-commentary referee thing? It's kind of drifted in, I think when it was BT they did it a little bit as well," Lineker told The Rest Is Football podcast.
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"But during the game, I don't really understand it. It's almost like saying that you pundits don't understand the laws of the game."
His fellow presenter on that podcast is Richards, who works for Sky Sports and was at Anfield. The former Manchester City star was defensive of Dean's role, saying: "Yeah but we don't know all of the laws of the game do we though Gaz?"
Lineker spot back by saying "Speak for yourself, Micah." But Richards continued to defend Dean, saying: "Come on. Pundits don't know the laws of the game…"
HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Sky Sports continue to use referees as analysts? Comment below.
Richards defended the feature despite intense questioning from Lineker (Rest is Football)But the Match of the Day host refused to back down, adding: "Well, they should do as it's very much part of the job now." Richards again fired back at the former Barcelona and England striker.
He said: "Yeah, but I mean… How many times have you heard pundits get it so wrong. They are just giving their opinion and not the matter of fact. They are just giving their opinion and not the matter of fact."
In response, Lineker replied: 'You can see if it's a foul or not. It's blindingly obvious things - it's just something with me. Obviously, broadcasters are looking to try and change things and do something a little bit different and all that sort of stuff.
"But I do find that one a tad odd. Have one if there's something actually contentious at some point... maybe. But we know a foul, we know the laws of the game."
"Do we though?" Richards then questioned. Lineker flatly responded: "Yes. I can't tell you how many times I've read all the laws of the game." That had no weight with Richards though.
He said: "Yes, but how many times on Match of the Day have you had to read something new out when they've changed [a law]. I can guarantee that every pundit is not up-to-date."
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Lineker conlcuded: "I think that's the thing where you tell the audience about the law of the game - you read out the law for them - but I don't think we're reading it out for ourselves... Well we shouldn't be."
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