Ex-Fifa referee ‘shudders’ over Jota controversy as Liverpool footage emerges
Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty during their 2-2 draw with Tottenham, according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee insisted Emerson Royal pushed Diogo Jota and should have been punished for his actions.
Just before the half-time break, the Spurs defender appeared to barge into Jota before he was able to get a shot away after receiving a pass from Naby Keita, as shown on the BBC’s Match of the Day 2 programme.
Emerson had come from behind in his attempt to win the ball but Liverpool’s appeals for a penalty were waved away.
Jurgen Klopp told Sky Sports afterwards he could not understand why VAR did not intervene on the incident.
“It’s a penalty,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“I shudder. I just think it was an awful afternoon for the referee and VAR operator on this game.
“The simple thing is that it doesn’t matter if the forward puts on the breaks. It’s down to the defender not to foul.
“The responsibility of the player on the pitch is to play the game in a fair and equitable manner and not foul. If he fouls, the law of the games say you should be punished.
“He’s put his arms out, he’s got bent arms and he’s straightened them. That’s a push. It’s a penalty kick.”
The result leaves Liverpool three points behind Premier League leaders Man City after 18 games played.
They now host Leicester City in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on Wednesday (22 December).
In other news, the Liverpool squad will be fuming after ‘ridiculous’ £100m+ Mohamed Salah talks latest.