Everton reporter for The Liverpool Echo Joe Thomas spotted Frank Lampard fuming over the referee’s decision not to give Aleksandar Mitrovic a red card on Saturday evening.
The Lowdown: Yellow given
Mitrovic launched a dangerous challenge on Idrissa Gueye in the 24th minute of the game at Craven Cottage, and was given a yellow card by referee John Brooks.
The striker’s studs were showing as he trod on Gueye’s ankle, missing the ball altogether, with suggestions that he could have been sent off instead.
The Latest: Lampard ‘furious’
Taking to Twitter, Thomas spotted Lampard’s instant reaction to the decision, claiming that the Toffees manager was ‘furious’ after witnessing the ‘shocker’ challenge:
“Lampard furious on the touchline and easy to see why, that’s a shocker of a challenge.”
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The Verdict: Could easily have been red…
Looking at the challenge, if the referee had given a red card originally, it does not seem like it would be ‘clear and obvious’ to overturn, as per the thresholds VAR use to try and come to the correct decision.
Thus, the Goodison Park outfit can count themselves unlucky that Mitrovic was not sent off, and the Serbia international could count himself lucky to stay on the pitch.
Thomas shared an explanation for why VAR did not overturn the decision after his reaction, as the officials claimed that the challenge ‘lacked intensity’, and therefore they did not deem it necessary to make an intervention.
Blues supporters will argue that there was enough force from Mitrovic, and on another day, a red card could have been given, so the decision was harsh on the Merseyside club.
