In another contentious VAR ruling during the Tottenham vs. Liverpool clash, Curtis Jones received a straight red card.
Initially, Jones had been issued a yellow card for a tackle on Yves Bissouma. However, a VAR review led Simon Hooper to reverse his decision, resulting in Jones being sent off.
The Liverpool midfielder’s boot appeared to roll over the ball and make contact with Bissouma’s shin, which officials deemed as a dangerous play, sparking division among fans.
Taking to social media, one supporter tweeted: “That is an absolutely shocking decision. Curtis Jones went for the ball, as his foot was in the air the ball was moved under his feet Bissouma. His action carried him through.”
RED CARD CURTIS JONES!
— Tottenham Tiers (@TottenhamTiers) September 30, 2023
CURTIS JONES IS SENT OFF! 🟥
.@GNev2 disagrees… pic.twitter.com/D7Z21Oorvk
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 30, 2023
While The Times reporterHenry Winterreckons VAR got it right, tweeting: “That’s a red, Curtis Jones can’t argue, VAR intervention, serious foul play, over the top on Bissouma. Challenge shown on the big screen, clubs doing it more, but stokes anger. Confirmed why Jones had to go.”
Luis Diaz then looked to have opened the scoring for Liverpool, only for VAR to intervene once more and rule out the goal for offside.
Supporters have been left baffled at the decision after VAR failed to release images of lines being drawn to demonstrate the offside.
📸 – Still no official VAR image has been released with lines being drawn. So far, only this image. pic.twitter.com/6al5wRc2tk
— 𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 💎 (@TheEuropeanLad) September 30, 2023
Tottenham then took full advantage of their one-man advantage through Son Heung-min, who opened the scoring just 10 minutes later.
However, Jurgen Klopp’s side refused to lie down, with Cody Gakpo turning on a sixpence and firing the ball into the back of the net, levelling the scores before half-time.