A moment of controversy in the big game at Etihad: Referee Simon Hooper was in the center of fire between Manchester City and Liverpool, due to a lenient decision – which could have dramatically changed the situation on the field. City were saved from a red card, which would have left them with ten players against Jurgen Klopp’s team.
The incident happened in the 34th minute: the team’s midfielder, Rhodri, received a yellow card a minute earlier – and committed a foul from behind on the Liverpool player, Cody Gakpo. Hopper chose to ignore and not draw a second yellow. It is important to note that according to the law, the VAR system cannot intervene in the case of a second yellow – but only in the case of a direct red (which was not the case here) – therefore there was no intervention in this case.
The networks harshly criticized the decision, including Arsenal fans who claimed: “Gabriel (Arsenal stopper) was sent off with a second yellow for the same thing that Rudy did. When will the league stop ‘falling in love’ with Manchester City?”. Another claimed: “We all know how inconsistent the referees in the Premier League are,” and that it is “nauseating.”
The opponent team is in the counter attack. You want to stop it from behind with putting two hands on his back and pulling him down. The ref doesn’t show you a yellow card.
It’s Rodri of course. pic.twitter.com/RXKPPruVTW
— LiverpoolGoals (@Liverpoolgoals_) April 1, 2023
Rodri ???? Being on the end of favourable refereeing decisions with a title on the line #lfc pic.twitter.com/6eTVI2ybXC
— Liverpool Photos (@LiverpoolPhotox) April 1, 2023
Rodri should be off, it’s as simple as that pic.twitter.com/dss1VtQqIS
— Anfield Agenda (@AnfieldAgenda) April 1, 2023