Ex-Fifa referee: Mane should get extended Liverpool ban after controversial footage analysed
Sadio Mane should have been sent off as Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw with Chelsea yesterday (2 January), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee praised Anthony Taylor for spotting Mane’s elbow on Cesar Azpilicueta but asked why VAR did not come in to upgrade the yellow card shown.
Mane and Azpilicueta both went up to challenge for a header just six seconds into the clash at Stamford Bridge.
The Liverpool winger was shown a yellow card and a red would have seen him banned for three Premier League games although he has now jetted off to represent Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations.
“First of all, I’m going to praise Anthony Taylor for his performance at this game because I thought it was terrific,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“He added to a very, very entertaining game by letting the game flow.
“The reason we have a pre-match warm-up is not only the physical side, it’s the mental side. The great learning point here is how Taylor was switched on. He’s some distance away but he’s seen it.
“He could have been helped because the yellow card is incorrect. That’s a very clear red card offence.
“Mane has led with his elbow and has a clenched fist. These are all things you can see very clearly on a TV screen but in fairness to Taylor, the game has just got underway and he’s some distance away.
“It was terrific officiating to spot it but where was VAR? Where was VAR to come in and say ‘Anthony, you need to have another look at that one’.
“They will review that and know full well that’s an error by VAR.
“I’m quite viscerous, Stockley Park should be closed. It’s sanitised away from the game, the passion and other aspects don’t come in to play.
“Either have a VAR room at the stadium or use the broadcast van in the car park area. I want them to be with the referee pre-match, stay at the same hotel, get a feeling of the stadium.
In other news, Liverpool will have a £60m bid accepted after a bank holiday update.