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Liverpool’s late defeat to Manchester Metropolis continues to generate debate, with former PGMOL chief govt Keith Hackett elevating severe questions over the purple card proven to Dominik Szoboszlai at Anfield.
The Hungary worldwide was despatched off in stoppage time after being judged to have denied Erling Haaland an apparent goalscoring alternative, regardless of the ball ending up within the web moments later.
That call has already dominated Szoboszlai out of Wednesday night time’s journey to Sunderland, however Hackett believes the legislation might not have been utilized appropriately.
In keeping with the previous refereeing chief, the essential problem is whether or not referee Craig Pawson had already utilized benefit earlier than returning to problem the dismissal.
Hackett defined his interpretation whereas talking on Soccer Insider, saying: “We have to return and study legislation and benefit.
“If the referee applies a bonus for denying an apparent goalscoring alternative, the participant must be cautioned, not despatched off.”
Why benefit legislation issues in Szoboszlai purple card resolution
🚨 “If this was the appliance of benefit, it ought to have been a 𝐘𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖 card.”
Ex-PGMOL chief @HACKETTREF drops main bombshell after having a look at benefit legislation following Dominik Szoboszlai purple card vs Man Metropolis. 😱 pic.twitter.com/T5vOiRBCum
— Soccer Insider (@footyinsider247) February 8, 2026
Hackett’s argument centres on a little-understood part of Regulation 12, which states that if benefit is performed after a DOGSO offence and a purpose is scored, the sanction must be diminished to a yellow card.
On this occasion, Rayan Cherki’s long-range effort crossed the road earlier than VAR intervened, with Pawson finally disallowing the purpose and returning to the unique foul.
Hackett believes that sequence issues.
“The query that must be answered is whether or not benefit was utilized,” he added. “If that’s the case, the participant ought to have been yellow carded, not purple carded.”
That interpretation has solely intensified frustration round an incident that already felt harsh on Liverpool, significantly given Szoboszlai’s total contribution.
The Hungarian midfielder accomplished 90 minutes, scored an outstanding free-kick, received 15 floor duels, made eight recoveries, and led our urgent within the second half as we pushed Metropolis again for lengthy intervals (through Sofascore).
Officers cut up as Szoboszlai incident continues to divide opinion
Hackett isn’t alone in questioning the result.
Erling Haaland and Pep Guardiola each expressed sympathy for Szoboszlai after the match, with Guardiola arguing that widespread sense ought to have prevailed if the purpose was allowed to face.
Former referee Dermot Gallagher, nonetheless, supplied a unique view, suggesting that VAR had no selection however to default again to the unique offence as soon as the purpose was disallowed.
That cut up highlights the continued lack of readability round how benefit and VAR work together in high-pressure conditions.
For Liverpool, the priority now could be sensible in addition to theoretical.
Szoboszlai’s absence leaves us brief forward of a troublesome midweek journey to Sunderland, with momentum as soon as once more disrupted by a refereeing resolution that can proceed to be dissected lengthy after the ultimate whistle.
Whether or not Hackett’s interpretation good points traction or not, it underlines one factor clearly.
The Szoboszlai purple card was not as simple because it first appeared, and Liverpool might but really feel they paid a heavier worth than the legal guidelines really demanded.
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