By Keith Hackett

30th Jan, 2023 | 12:59pm

Ex-Premier League referee can't believe Liverpool injustice as Ibrahima Konate ban controversy analysed

Keith Hackett has insisted Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate should have been shown a straight red card for his last-ditch challenge on Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee warned that officials need to “sort themselves out” after a string of poor decisions since the arrival of new PGMOL chief Howard Webb.

As seen in footage from the ITV Football Twitter account (29 January), Konate wiped out Mac Allister as he raced through on the Liverpool goal.

Brighton’s appeals were waved away by referee David Coote, and his decision was backed up by VAR official Neil Swarbrick.

The Frenchman had already been booked with the game finely poised at 2-2 in the final minutes.

Brighton went on to win the game 3-2 through a fine finish from Kaoru Mitoma to book their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

A red card for Konate would have seen him banned for Liverpool’s trip to Wolves on Saturday (4 February) as suspensions carry over across all competitions.

Hackett told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “This is a clear red card offence.

“There’s a foul, and he’s denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. It has to be a red card.

“I don’t know if Howard Webb coming in has raised the bar for clear and obvious, but I’ll tell you what – the referee and the VAR have got to sort themselves out.

“This was a clear denial, and he should have been sent off.”

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