Lee Dixon has offered his analysis on why he thinks Bruno Fernandes managed to escape a second yellow card during the Liverpool versus Manchester United match.
The highly anticipated quarter-final FA Cup clash at Old Trafford provided both teams with a chance to secure a spot in the semi-final, with Manchester City, Coventry, and Chelsea already advancing.
Despite Manchester United taking an early lead with Scott McTominay’s goal, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool quickly bounced back with goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah just before halftime.
Bruno Fernandes, United’s midfielder, found himself in the referee’s book after Salah’s goal. Shortly thereafter, he was involved in a challenge on Dominik Szoboszlai at the start of the second half.
Despite committing the foul, Fernandes was not given a second yellow card.
The absence of VAR intervention meant that referee John Brooks did not reconsider his decision to issue Fernandes a red card.
Dixon, providing co-commentary for the game, remarked that Fernandes was “fortunate” to avoid being sent off.
Dixon observed the situation and noted the lack of Liverpool players surrounding the referee, indicating that while Fernandes’s actions may have warranted a foul, they were common occurrences throughout the match.
He pointed out that such incidents are typically reviewed by VAR, highlighting Fernandes’s stroke of luck in avoiding a second yellow card.
Dixon expressed his belief that if the incident had taken place elsewhere on the pitch and Fernandes had not already been booked, he would have received a yellow card without hesitation.
He further underscored this point by suggesting that if a similar scenario had unfolded on the halfway line, the referee would have issued a yellow card.
Dixon’s analysis sheds light on the subjective nature of refereeing decisions and the influence of various factors, such as player reactions and the location of the incident, on the outcome of disciplinary actions during football matches.
