Phil Neville has spoken out in disagreement over the decision to award Liverpool forward Mo Salah a penalty against Newcastle United on Boxing Day.
The Egyptian went down in the area under minimal contact from Magpies’ full-back Paul Dummet before picking himself up to convert the kick and make it 2-0 to Jurgen Klopp’s side.
The Reds went on to win 4-0.
Speaking on Match of the Day (BBC One, Wednesday December 26th, 10.20pm), the England Women’s manager said: “If I was Paul Dummett I wouldn’t be happy about his being given against me. I know he puts his arm there but he goes down so easily Mo Salah.
“It’s hardly a touch for me. It’s a contact sport. I think it was harsh.”
According to Sky Sports News, Salah will not receive retrospective action over the incident.
OPINION
When you’re down at the bottom, battling relegation, nothing seems to go your way, and Newcastle will feel massively aggrieved that Mo Salah was given a penalty for what was a very soft incident on Boxing Day. Ultimately, it didn’t matter too much as the league leaders strolled to a comfortable win, but with the game at just 1-0 the decision came at a crucial juncture and really swung the momentum of the match in Liverpool’s favour. Punishments of such incidents tread a fine line, but not taking action against Salah can’t be a good thing. There was contact between Dummett and the Egyptian, but it was brush of the arm and surely not enough to send him tumbling. By choosing to not intervene and hand Salah a ban for simulation the FA have essentially given players across the league a green light to mimic him, provided they are convincing enough to fool a referee in the heat of the moment. This sets a worrying precedent.