Luis Diaz claimed his first Premier League goal for Liverpool on Saturday afternoon - but he took a hefty hit en route to scoring. Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez inexplicably escaped a red card for clattering into the Colombian forward.
Sanchez's wild attempt at a challenge left Diaz in a heap in the area but, incredibly, VAR didn't even recommend a review of the incident to on-pitch referee.
Sanchez was not even handed a yellow card for the incident, and fans were in genuine disbelief on social media over the incident.
Robert Sanchez: Brighton goalkeeper escapes punishment for wild foul
Luis Diaz has made an immediate impact since joining Liverpool, and he finally got on the scoresheet in the Premier League on Saturday. Diaz opened the scoring with a clever header against Brighton, but the Seagulls' goalkeeper made a shocking challenge on the Colombian.
Joel Matip played a delightful ball over the top of the Brighton defence to Diaz, and the Brighton 'keeper Robert Sanchez came rushing out of his goal. Diaz saw the onrushing Sanchez and knocked the ball past him into the net. As he did, Sanchez raised his leg and caught Diaz heavily in the chest at speed.
Robert Sanchez somehow escaped a red card for this incident
Incredibly, even after VAR had a look at the incident, they failed to recommend that referee Mike Dean take a second look at it on the pitchside monitor.
It was an extraordinary decision, so much so that the infamously diplomatic Peter Walton expressed his disagreement with the decision on BT Sport. Walton has been known to defer to the on-pitch decision when giving his "expert" opinion but he couldn't defend Sanchez's challenge, comparing it to Harald Schumacher's wild challenge in the 1982 World Cup semi-final.
Jamie Carragher was one who suggested a possible reason for a red card not being awarded. Carragher surmised that the fact Diaz had scored had led to the officials deciding against punishment for Sanchez.
That may well be the reasoning, but it doesn't seem hugely sensible from the VAR team if it is the case.
I’m convinced the red card wasn’t given because it was a goal. That header goes past the post & it’s a red card. It’s almost like, a goal is enough. #BHALIV
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) March 12, 2022
It is hard to find any way of defending the challenge from Robert Sanchez.
The Brighton man came storming out of his goal at speed, with his leg raised high, making late contact on another player's chest with his boot as the last man back. Any one of those factors could justify a red card, and the decision not to punish Sanchez becomes inexplicable when they're all mashed in together.
If it’s an outfield player on an outfield player = red card
If it’s an outfield player on a GK = red card
GK on an outfield player = no red card— Gary Neville (@GNev2) March 12, 2022
The standard of refereeing in the Premier League continues to come under scrutiny, and this incident will not help. VAR will inevitably get the blame, but the fact that Mike Dean himself didn't spot the obvious foul should also be cause for concern.
Thankfully, Luis Diaz was not taken out of the game by the foul, but Robert Sanchez could count himself a lucky man to complete the game on Saturday.
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