Liverpool Exclusive: Ex-FIFA ref reacts to footage of Luis Diaz incident v Lille
Felix Zwayer was correct to show Aissa Mandi two yellow cards as Lille lost 2-1 to Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
According to former Premier League and FIFA referee Keith Hackett, Mandi left Zwayer with no option but to send him off after his reckless 59th-minute challenge on Luis Diaz.
Liverpool went ahead through Mohamed Salah in the 34th minute despite protests from Lille players.
Algerian defender Mandi was among those who were furious with Zwayer’s failure to disallow Salah’s goal for what he deemed to be a foul on Jonathan David in the build-up.
Lille players furious with Liverpool incident
As a result of his dissent, Mandi was shown his first booking.
Hackett can’t see why the Lille centre-back was so angry about the decision to allow Salah’s goal and has also criticised his inability to stay out of the referee’s book for a second time later in the game.
“The Lille player goes to the ground looking for a foul and the referee has got this spot on,” Hackett told Liverpool News. “When a player on the move is tripped the usual body mechanics is to fall forward and often the hands will come out to soften the fall.
“The player here actually falls backwards after playing the ball so it’s no foul for me.
“On the second one, after being yellow carded for dissent, you have to take care.
“This player commits a foul that stops a promising attack. This is a nailed-on yellow card.
“The referee makes the correct decision.”
Mandi’s red card was bizarrely followed three minutes later by Liverpool switching off and conceding a Lille equaliser via David.
However, a deflected 67th-minute goal by Harvey Elliott was enough for the Reds to preserve their 100 per cent Champions League record and ensure they will finish top of the league stage if they earn at least a point in their final game.
In other Liverpool news, Alan Shearer was rocked by what Salah did against Lille.
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