Liverpool’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Newcastle at St James’ Park on Monday night wasn’t short of controversy. While teenager Rio Ngumoha’s dramatic 100th-minute strike stole the headlines, another big talking point came from Ibrahima Konaté’s challenge on Harvey Barnes — a moment many thought should have seen the defender sent off.
The match had already been heated, with Anthony Gordon dismissed for a reckless tackle on Virgil van Dijk just before half-time, leaving the Magpies to play the entire second half with 10 men. However, some Newcastle fans believe the game should have been levelled in numbers when Konaté, already on a yellow, clashed with Barnes in the second half.
📍 The Incident
The flashpoint came not long after Hugo Ekitike pulled one back for Liverpool. As Bruno Guimarães released Barnes into space, Konaté stepped across and appeared to shove the winger to the ground. From the stands, it looked like a certain foul and possibly a second booking.
Chris Sutton, on Sky Sports commentary, described the incident as “shoulder to shoulder,” but slow-motion replays suggested Konaté extended his arms to push Barnes. Journalist Luke Edwards (The Telegraph), who was inside the stadium, later wrote: “That wasn’t shoulder-to-shoulder at all. Clear shove, second yellow in my eyes. Ref didn’t even call the foul.” Duncan Castles (The Sunday Times) shared a similar view, calling it a “last-man foul” that should have changed the outcome of the game.
📍 Why No Card Was Shown
While referee Simon Hooper opted against awarding even a free-kick, the explanation may lie in new IFAB (International Football Association Board) guidelines for the 2025/26 season. The updated rules encourage Premier League referees to set a “higher threshold” for fouls, with a focus on allowing physical battles to flow unless player safety is at risk.
The idea is to avoid disrupting matches with constant whistles, but this more relaxed interpretation has already raised concerns. Fans online were quick to point out that situations like Konaté’s shove could easily slip through under this policy. One supporter summed it up: “If referees ignore these clear fouls in the name of letting the game flow, it’ll only cause more controversy.”
For now, Liverpool benefited from the leniency, but Newcastle’s frustration will no doubt add fuel to the growing debate over refereeing standards in the Premier League.
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