The Andersson/Lerma incident. I’m genuinely unsure on this.
Post match we have Gary O’Neil saying Lerma has a broken nose. Yet he plays the whole game without any seeming ill effects. That and the smile as he says it screams “con job” to me. I’ve seen, heard and been on the receiving end of similar BS from managers including a player “with a broken leg” who promptly came out of the physio room with an ice pack on, laughing and joking with teammates.
But I digress - the incident itself. VAR look at it and Lineker does the whole “excuse” routine, about the lack of a swinging arm.
I’ve seen it back multiple times and I wouldn’t want to make that call. It would be guesswork. The hand is closed, granted. Clenched? Less clear. And there’s no backswing consistent with a punch, nor an obvious jab. And Lerma does move towards him.
We have an alleged injury, and a potential cause. But is that enough to go for red? I just can’t sell it to myself.
Post match we have Gary O’Neil saying Lerma has a broken nose. Yet he plays the whole game without any seeming ill effects. That and the smile as he says it screams “con job” to me. I’ve seen, heard and been on the receiving end of similar BS from managers including a player “with a broken leg” who promptly came out of the physio room with an ice pack on, laughing and joking with teammates.
But I digress - the incident itself. VAR look at it and Lineker does the whole “excuse” routine, about the lack of a swinging arm.
I’ve seen it back multiple times and I wouldn’t want to make that call. It would be guesswork. The hand is closed, granted. Clenched? Less clear. And there’s no backswing consistent with a punch, nor an obvious jab. And Lerma does move towards him.
We have an alleged injury, and a potential cause. But is that enough to go for red? I just can’t sell it to myself.