Ryan Mason had been flung around several loops of an emotional rollercoaster by the time Diogo Jota and Oliver Skipp clashed in the 80th minute.
After watching Liverpool mercilessly rifle in three goals without reply in the opening 15 minutes, mourn the post twice being struck and celebrate goals from Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, Mason uncoiled with rage when Jota’s boot connected with Skipp’s skull, drawing blood.
“It’s because of this place!” Mason appeared to bellow from his technical box, frantically pointing at the Anfield stands after referee Paul Tierney produced a yellow card for Jota’s indiscretion.
As the dark humour of the fates would have it, Jota scored Liverpool’s stoppage-time winner after Spurs had briefly equalised seconds earlier. Yet, putting aside Mason’s claims of impartiality – which Jurgen Klopp’s rant against Tierney clearly clashes with – why was Jota still on the pitch to score the seventh goal of the 4-3 thriller?
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🗣️ “It’s one of the clearest red cards I’ve seen. I’d like an explanation.” 🟥
Ryan Mason says he was ‘baffled’ by the decision on Jota’s challenge on Skipp. 🗯 pic.twitter.com/avj7Z4vjgu
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 30, 2023
While Jota felt compelled to apologise to Skipp for his high boot, the Portuguese forward explained why he agreed with Tierney’s non-dismissal: “I also think it’s not a red because I touched the ball and there was no intention to cause him any harm.”
A quick perusal of Law 12 in the FA handbook describes “serious foul play” – which is listed as a sending-off offence – as “a tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent”. There is no mention of intent and “excess force” is not a requirement.
The law goes on to state: “Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.”
That Jota grazed the ball with his studs before sinking them into Skipp’s forehead should not influence the referee’s decision. Tierney, who had a clear line of sight to the incident ten yards from where he was stood in the centre circle, must have decided that Jota did not “endanger the safety” of Skipp. Video assistant referee (VAR) David Coote did not overrule Tierney or even direct him over to the pitch-side monitor for a second viewing.
Mason, naturally, did not agree….
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