Garth Crooks hits out at Frank Lampard comments on Virgil van Dijk tackle on Everton midfielder Amadou Onana
BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks has hit out at Frank Lampard after the Everton boss suggested that Virgil van Dijk could have been sent off in the Merseyside Derby.
The Liverpool defender produced a high and late tackle on Amadou Onana but was given a yellow card on the field by referee Anthony Taylor.
VAR did not intervene to potentially upgrade the yellow card to a red for van Dijk and Lampard suggested after the game that he “might” have been dismissed for the tackle.
Crooks has since suggested that the matter was for the referee and not for Lampard.
Writing for his BBC Column on Sunday 4 September, Crooks said: “As for Frank Lampard suggesting in his press conference that Virgil van Dijk ‘might’ have seen red for his challenge on Amadou Onana, this is a matter for the referee and not him.”
Allowed an opinion
It’s hard to see what Frank Lampard has actually done wrong in this scenario after merely suggesting that the Liverpool defender “could” have received a red card for the tackle.
Furthermore, the presence of VAR also means that the Everton boss is well within his right to question the decision made by the official considering that van Dijk was late and high with his challenge.
On the whole, there does need to be a much higher standard of officiating in the Premier League with the current inconsistency from VAR and on-the-field officials costing teams dearly.
However, according to ex-FIFA official Chris Foy, writing for the Mail on Sunday (page 147, 4 September), Taylor was correct to award a yellow card and could have upgraded the decision had he wanted to.
That displays the inconsistency that frustrates managers, players, fans and pundits all over the world.
The tackle could’ve been given a red or a yellow when ultimately, someone needs to be clear on what is deserving of a sending-off.
In a weekend of bizarre decisions, this one is certainly up there for being one of the most contentious.