The FA have confirmed that David Luiz’s red card for his foul on Willian Jose will stand after Arsenal failed with their appeal against the dismissal.
Luiz accidentally collided with the Wolverhampton Wanderers man as he raced through on goal and was subsequently sent off for the collision.
However, various pundits and former officials have come out in defence of the £5.4m-rated Brazilian with Mark Clattenburg claiming both VAR and Craig Pawson got the decision wrong.
Was Luiz's foul a red card offence?
Yes
No
It’s beggar’s belief that Luiz’s red card has been upheld by the football’s governing body in the UK. The Brazilian’s challenge was purely accidental and as per the double-jeopardy rules, should’ve been overturned.
The decision does prove incredibly controversial after Southampton’s Jan Bednarek’s suspension and sending off, for a similar offence, was overturned at the same moment as Arsenal’s.
However, I can’t say I’m too surprised by the decision from the same organisation, who had no officials at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Officiating in this country has gone downhill from the days of 2010 when Howard Webb refereed both the Champions League and World Cup finals.
Former boss Arsene Wenger had his say on the standard of referees in this country back in 2018 after West Brom were handed a last-minute penalty in their draw with the Gunners. He claimed the men needed to leave the ‘dark ages’ after a shocking handball call on Calum Chambers.
When a player who committed the exact same offence gets let off the hook, it makes you wonder, is there corruption within English football? I mean, you don’t like to make such claims, but, questions need to be asked of the decision which has upheld the 33-year-old’s card.
In other news, Paul Merson lashed out at the £20m man after the Wolves defeat.
