Durhamfootman wrote:I understand there was some confusion, because VAR was looking at a possible Forest penalty at the time
Ryan Yates of Forest came in with a reckless high tackle that missed all the Liverpool players, but Konate reacted to it by trying to win the free-kick pretending he had been hit. The angle facing the goal proves that he was not hit, and the referee obviously seen this clearly, because if there was any question Yates hit Konate he gets a red card and its a free kick. I dont think the ref checked VAR as there was no pause in the game, maybe a possibility he asked very quickly if Yates had missed or hit and was told the former instantly.
That's where this gets very fishy though. If the referee clearly saw Konate was not hit, then he also knows Konate is play acting by pretending to be injured. The angle from the other side that stays on Konate shows him actually go to the ground to try to win the foul, when it isn't given he goes to get up, realises that the ball has been won by Forest and Hudson-Odoi is about to throw in another cross he has no chance of getting towards, he smacks the turf with his fist in frustration, then decides to play dead. The referee looking at him through all of this then blows after he throws himself back to the turf.
The referee must have 100% known he was not injured. (a) because he seen Konate get up and then dive. (b) Because he didn't give the foul knowing he had not been contacted.
He then shut down a Forest attack which had followed an increased period of pressure where Liverpool looked on the ropes, and gave Liverpool the ball.
If this wasn't Liverpool, he'd never have done this. Once again I am left in no doubt this"accident" is very much not an accident.
Sets a horrible precedent too. I imagine in the coming weeks we will see a lot of defenders go down clutching their heads when it appears they are under the cosh.