What has been going on at UEFA HQ this evening? The men in charge seemed to totally lose the plot as the action unfolded at Anfield this evening.
Liverpool hosted Atletico Madrid on their home turf, with the Wanda Metroplitano thriller still fresh in the memory.
Drama was guaranteed, but little did we know that the biggest story of the night would be a rather puzzling piece of officiating.
After Atletico’s Felipe tripped up Sadio Mane to prevent a Liverpool counter-attack, everyone in the stadium and watching at home could’ve guessed a yellow card was on its way.
Danny Makkelie blew his whistle to get Felipe’s attention. Once, twice and NOW he’s angry. The referee showed the Brazilian a straight red, to the surprise of everyone.
The assumption was that Felipe was getting a yellow for the card and a yellow for dissent… but why would Makkelie brandish a red straight away?
It got people talking.
As the second-half got underway, UEFA provided the official word: Felipe was sent off for violent conduct, no mention of dissent.
UEFA confirm Felipe sent off for violent conduct. #LIVATM pic.twitter.com/rLJCVlBi6l
— Chris Williams (@Chris78Williams) November 3, 2021
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That is truly puzzling. It’d be a major shock if a referee with Makkelie’s pedigree would show a red in a game of this magnitude for something so soft.
You can also see the anger of the referee escalate as Felipe ignores him. You get the feeling UEFA are making it up as they go along here…
A contentious red card at Anfield! 🟥
Felipe is given his marching orders for this deliberate trip on Sadio Mane… 😳#UCL pic.twitter.com/9xqrALqYdr
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 3, 2021
We are going to assume that Makkelie’s referee report post-match is not going to align with the ‘official’ response given by European football’s governing body.
It makes you wonder – why wouldn’t they just wait rather than further confusing an already confusing matter?
It’s a studs up stamp on the ankle so its a red no doubt. long ago gerrard got red for a stamp as well.