Liverpool midfielder Fabinho should have been shown a red card in instead of a yellow during the Reds' FA Cup defeat to Brighton on Sunday, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has accepted.
The Brazilian was hit with a caution just moments after coming on as a late substitute for Jurgen Klopp's side in the FA Cup Fourth round, when he brought down Seagulls striker Evan Ferguson with a late lunge. The 18-year-old required treatment on the pitch and was unable to continue and television replays showed that Fabinho had raked his studs down the back of his opponents ankle.
But despite the presence of VAR technology, the on-field decision was allowed to stand and Liverpool's midfielder escaped with just a caution.
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The ruling has drawn widespread criticism and according to BBC Sport, the PGMOL has since accepted privately that there was sufficient evidence of the incident to warrant a red card.
Although the challenge is considered to have been of relatively low intensity, the point of contact with the studs above the ankle from behind makes the challenge in the category of a red card offence. In such a case, the expectation is that referee David Coote should have been sent to the pitch-side monitor to review his decision.
As it is, Fabinho has escaped a suspension, but Brighton are yet to confirm the extend of Ferguson's injury. The Seagulls won the tie 2-1 with a goal from Kaoru Mitoma in injury time that ended Liverpool's defence of the FA Cup.
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