As Premier League resumes this weekend, a controversial decision has been made as the referee selected for the Liverpool vs Brighton match was involved in disgrace.
The incompetence of referee prior to Liverpool vs Brighton match
After a 17-day gap and two league games being postponed due to the Queen’s passing, the Reds are returning this weekend. Their most recent match was a 2-1 Champions League triumph over Ajax. Their most recent league contest was a 0-0 Merseyside derby tie with Everton. But that was over a month ago.
David Moyes and Declan Rice criticised the referee and VAR after West Ham lost 2-1 to Chelsea that weekend in another game, which also sparked controversy.
Declan Rice:
“How can you go over to the monitor and call that a foul? It’s an absolute disgrace.”
The midfielder was alluding to an alleged foul by Jarrod Bowen on Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. It prevented Maxwel Cornet from scoring and prevented West Ham from earning a 2-2 draw.
A controversial decision prior to the big match this weekend
Mendy seemed to be “faking” an injury, as Moyes said, and he made an “absolutely awful judgment from one of the allegedly skilled refs.”
Andy Madley officiated the game that afternoon. He will now officiate Liverpool’s match against Brighton on Saturday. It is after being initially assigned to the Wolves match before it was postponed.
Neither Madley nor VAR Jarred Gillett received a sanction in the form of a demotion. And neither Moyes nor Rice received a censure for their remarks.
What holds for the Liverpool vs Brighton match this weekend?
In his very brief Premier League career, Madley has officiated six Liverpool matches. The latest being just the 2-2 draw with Fulham on the first day of the current year.
He was the referee for a match between Partizan Belgrade and OGC Nice in the UEFA Europa Conference League between the dispute at Stamford Bridge and the present. Simon Hooper, who previously served as VAR for three Liverpool games—victories against Crystal Palace, Brighton, and Wolves—will serve as the official on Saturday.
