It's game management :-)
In the same way you stand right over the ball when a free kick is given, pretending to be protesting the decision with the ref but really just standing in the way to stop it being taken quickly.
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Right, but referees consider force when looking at danger and/or consequence. Which is why it was fine for that prick Bruno at Newcastle to whack Jorginho on the back of the head as long as he only used his forearm, and not his elbow.
The key for me is that he doesn't attack the ball and the player at the same time. He attacks the ball, and the opponent arrives and collides with him. Doku is stationary, and turning his body away from the swing of the foot. I think he has done enough to minimise the danger and is entitled to attempt to clear the ball. A big swing of the foot and/ or a follow through and yes, I would agree.
At the very least.... it is not a clear and obvious error. When I saw it live, and the pundits were oohing and aaaahing about how he was in so much trouble, my first instinct was that I would be stunned if VAR gave that.
The only downside is that if Liverpool lose the league by a point or two, we will still be hearing about it for the rest of our lives.
As usual, I agree with Peter :-)
Never a pen, ask yourself what MacAllister was doing there. He didn't try to head the ball, control the ball or position himself to get control of the ball. He ran towards Duko while Duko was trying to clear the ball and stood there, directly in front of him. Then when the follow through brushed him he flung himself to the ground screaming.
Yellow for diving :-)
But more importantly, since when did it become acceptable for defenders to grab anyone in the box when a cross is played in and drag them to the ground?! Brentford did it all game long, at one point someone dragged White into the goal as the cross came in!
It's currently a free for all on set pieces. Defenders seem to be able to do anything and get away with it.
I just hope we're doing it as well.