“That’s what the rules are” – Sky Sports duo disagree on refereeing decision from Liverpool win
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During the Premier League clash between Burnley and Liverpool at Turf Moor, Burnley's midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu was involved in a controversial incident that led to significant discussion post-match. In the 16th minute, Ugochukwu made a sliding challenge on Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister, which left the latter injured and eventually substituted at half-time. Referee Michael Oliver initially gave Ugochukwu a yellow card, but former FIFA referee and ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett argued that this was a misjudgment, asserting that the tackle should have resulted in a straight red card for serious foul play due to its danger to the opponent[1][6].
Despite avoiding a direct sending off for the challenge on Mac Allister, Ugochukwu did not complete the match. He received a second yellow card later for a late challenge on Florian Wirtz, leading to his dismissal. The game remained tense, with Burnley down to 10 men.
Liverpool managed to secure a late victory through a 95th-minute penalty awarded after Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri was judged to have handled the ball in the area. Mohamed Salah took the spot-kick and scored emphatically, sustaining Liverpool’s perfect start to the league season and maintaining their position at the top of the table. Commentators, including Sky Sports' Roy Keane, criticized Burnley for the handball and noted how it cost them a valuable point, which would have felt like a win against the reigning champions[2][5].
The match highlighted contentious refereeing decisions surrounding Ugochukwu’s first yellow card and the penalty that decided the game, adding pressure on Burnley as they struggled against Arne Slot’s Liverpool side with 80% possession and 26 shots on goal but little success until the very end[2][1].
PP