Trent Alexander-Arnold was at the centre of controversy in Liverpool’s clash with Newcastle United.
The Reds defender blocked a shot from Salomon Rondon on the line with his arm, and in normal circumstances a red card would have followed.
But in a unique twist, Newcastle’s Christian Atsu scored from the rebound just seconds later and referee Andre Marriner decided there would be no further punishment.
Read how Liverpool's clash with Newcastle unfolded here
Had the hosts not scored, Alexander-Arnold would have been dismissed.
The referee also should have booked the youngster in the aftermath but let the play resume.
The youngster was at the heart of the action, too, setting up two Liverpool goals that were converted by Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah either side of Atsu’s equaliser.
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Here’s the official ruling on such incidents:
- Where a player denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by a deliberate handball offence the player is sent off wherever the offence occurs.
- Where a player commits an offence against an opponent within their own penalty area which denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offending player is cautioned if the offence was an attempt to play the ball; in all other circumstances (e.g. holding, pulling, pushing, no possibility to play the ball etc.) the offending player must be sent off.
- A player, sent off player, substitute or substituted player who enters the field of play without the required referee’s permission and interferes with play or an opponent and denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity is guilty of a sending-off offence
The following must be considered:
-distance between the offence and the goal
-general direction of the play
-likelihood of keeping or gaining control of the ball
-location and number of defenders
