Why Was Joelinton Not Booked for a Blatant Foul Against Liverpool?
Liverpool’s dominant performance against Newcastle at Anfield was marred by a baffling decision regarding a blatant foul committed by Joelinton. In the first half, as Dominik Szoboszlai advanced into Newcastle’s half, Joelinton grabbed and pulled his shoulder, impeding the progress of the attack. Surprisingly, referee Anthony Taylor chose to play advantage instead of issuing a yellow card. Despite the passage of play ending more than a minute later, Joelinton was not cautioned.
Controversial Decision Raises Eyebrows
The incident caused an uproar among Liverpool players and fans alike. Mohamed Salah rushed to plead Liverpool’s case with the referee after the ball went out for a Newcastle corner. The lack of a booking for Joelinton left many questioning the consistency of officiating in the game.
PGMOL Offers Explanation
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) attempted to clarify the decision made by Taylor. According to Henry Winter of The Times, Taylor did not show a yellow card because the holding offense in the first half interfered with a promising attack, and advantage was played. This interpretation is based on Law 12 section three, which states that if the referee plays advantage for an offense that would have resulted in a caution, the caution must be issued when the ball is next out of play.
Interpreting the Rules
While the decision may adhere to the rules, it does not always align with how similar situations are interpreted. The lack of consistency in officiating can be frustrating for teams and fans alike. In this case, a caution for Joelinton would have been preferred over a half chance from an advantage. It was only in the 66th minute that Joelinton finally received a yellow card.
Overall, the incident raises questions about the application of the rules and the need for more consistent officiating in football matches.