Arsene Wenger and his side were incensed with the officiating of Michael Oliver in Arsenal's 0-0 draw with Chelsea today when he failed to send off defender David Luiz for attempting a reckless bicycle kick which saw his boot connect with the face of French defender Lauren Koscienly.
Liverpool's Sadio Mané was given a red card last week for a high boot that connected with the face of Man City's goalkeeper Ederson and Newcastle's Matt Ritchie admitted that he should have been sent off for a high boot on Swansea's Alfie Mawson last weekend.
Although the Brazilian defender with was shown his marching orders with only three minutes remaining this afternoon for separate incident (a two-footed lunge on Sead Kolasinac), Arsenal felt that he should have been sent off for his dangerous bicycle kick only minutes into the second half.
The match finished 0-0 but if Luiz had been sent off for the earlier incident, Chelsea would have played the second half with 10 men for the remaining 40 minutes.
Cesc Fabregas curled the ball into Arsenal's box from the right hand side, only for his teammate to channel his inner samba flair and attempt the overhead action.
From the initial view, the incident looked innocuous until the replays were shown (Mane's challenge also looked innocuous until second viewing), and referee Oliver decided that it was no more than yellow card, a decision which left the Arsenal team furious.
Koscienly rose above everyone inclduing Luiz to head the ball clear before being clattered in the face by the Brazilian.
Luiz initial reaction was one of fear as he immediately looked to his opponent to see if he had been badly hurt.
Liverpool and their fans are likely to be disappointed with the lack of consistency by referee's in applying the high boot law. Mané is suspended for a further two games, while Matt Ritchie was available to play this weekend in their victory over Stoke which saw the midfielder set up both of his side's goals.
The incident has divided opinion in the football world, with many claiming a double standard, with others maintaining the two incidents are completely different.
Is the David Luiz overhead kick any less dangerous than Mané's foot up challenge? Of course it's not.
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) September 17, 2017
Overhead kick and Mane challenge totally separate issues. OHK is using bridge of the foot as opposed to the studs. Not dangerous at all.
— Joey Barton (@Joey7Barton) September 17, 2017
So Mane is sent off for a dangerous overhead kick but Luiz isn't? 🤔🤔 #doublestandards #rugbyclub sort it out FA and make it clear cut!!
— COYG #RacistBoris #Socialist (@socialist_4JC) September 17, 2017
If that's a yellow for Morata and overhead kicks are deemed dangerous play why don't they just ban slide tackling as well?? #GamesGone
— Ross Burdon (@jrburdon) September 17, 2017
W/overhead kick, you know your foot's in a dangerous place, especially in crowded box. If you take gamble, get it right or you're off
— wengenomics (@wengenomics) September 17, 2017
No objections to red there. Don't try a ridiculous overhead kick in crowded penalty area - reckless and dangerous
— BJR (@ramdog7) September 17, 2017
