Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg has backed Lee Mason for not punishing Jordan Pickford when his studs raked Danny Ings’ back in Everton’s win over Southampton on Saturday.
Saints manager Mark Hughes claimed that Toffees shot-stopper Pickford should have been sent off after the flashpoint that left Ings with stud marks on his lower back and a torn shirt.
Clattenburg believes that in real time, he wouldn’t have punished Pickford either but can understand why it caused so much fury from the Saints dug-out at Goodison Park when the incident is viewed in slow motion and labelled the Everton shot-stopper as being reckless.
“On first viewing – and at full speed – Jordan Pickford’s challenge on Danny Ings looked fair,” said Clattenburg on the Daily Mail website.
“I cannot criticise Lee Mason for his decision, which was to let play continue.
“But after watching replays I understand why this one will split opinion. If you slow the situation down – and have the benefit of a new angle – Pickford was reckless in his follow through and caught Ings on the small of his back with his studs. It resulted in a nasty injury for the striker and left him with a ripped shirt.
“So you can look at the consequences of the challenge and determine that Pickford endangered his opponent.
“But this was one where VAR will not be able to satisfy everyone and, were it in use, I think you should stick with the on-field decision.”
OPINION
Situations like this are always hard to judge and you can see why slow motion replays often cause even more controversy than the live action. Mason had a tough call to make and it was certainly one that could have gone both ways. Pickford was certainly aggressive but won the ball first and managed to clear his lines. However his studs were up and they did catch Ings. Was it endangering an opponent? There is a massive difference between a dangerous challenge on someone’s lower leg than there is on their back. Other than some nasty scratches and grazes, Ings wasn’t exactly going to get a serious injury from that. It’s not nice but this is still a contact sport and sometimes players get themselves into positions where they get caught like this. Goalkeepers have their jobs to do and as do strikers and in this case, the more aggressive player won the battle.