Andoni Iraola makes Liverpool red card admission but points out another VAR problem
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has admitted he wasn’t convinced that Alexis Mac Allister deserved to be sent off in Liverpool’s 3-1 win on Saturday.
The World Cup winner was harshly dismissed for a late challenge on Ryan Christie just before the hour-mark, with Jurgen Klopp hinting after the game that the Reds could appeal the decision.
And Iraola admitted after the final whistle that he wasn’t convinced it should have been a red card, when asked if Alisson should have been sent off for an early foul on Jaidon Anthony.
“For me the red card was more kind of orange,” he said. “And the Alisson situation was kind of orange.
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“It is a difficult decision for the referee. I understand. They are not easy decisions.”
Meanwhile, Iraola also bemoaned the decision to award Liverpool a first half penalty after Joe Rothwell tripped Dominik Szoboszlai. Neto saved Mohamed Salah’s effort, only for the Egyptian to convert the rebound to give the Reds the lead.
“Before the penalty we were competing,” the Bournemouth boss said. “This penalty was important for them and after, when they were with 10 men, the next play they scored.
“I’ve seen it. We see everything on the bench, we have the chance to see it. I think it is a very, very soft penalty.
“It is contact. It’s a penalty that once the referee whistles, I don’t think the VAR is going to call him. Even if it is very light, there is contact.
“But in that moment, it was important for us. We were unlucky that the ball went to Salah and it’s 2-1.”
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