Former PGMOL head: Mohamed Salah fortunate to avoid a ban for his actions against Brentford
Mohamed Salah was lucky to stay on the pitch during Liverpool’s surprising defeat to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett told Football Insider that referee Simon Hooper faced a tough decision after Salah’s challenge on Kevin Schade. The tackle earned Salah a yellow card, and shortly after, Virgil van Dijk conceded a controversial penalty, which Igor Thiago converted on the hour mark.
Brentford had already taken a commanding lead in the first half through goals from Dango Ouattara, Schade, and Milos Kerkez. Salah scored a late strike in stoppage time, but Brentford’s penalty effectively secured the win.
Liverpool’s struggles continue to raise questions for manager Arne Slot, with the Reds losing five of their last six matches, only managing a Champions League win against Eintracht Frankfurt during that period. Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate have come under criticism for shaky defending, which Brentford exploited to secure an unexpected victory.
Hackett noted that Salah could have faced a harsher punishment, given that he landed on the top of Schade’s foot in the 57th minute. While some fans felt a yellow card was insufficient, the former referee explained that the rules clearly dictate that only excessive force endangering a player warrants a red card.
“This is a vulnerable area for a player,” Hackett said. “Referees have to protect players and act decisively. The law favors a yellow over a red unless the challenge uses excessive force. In Salah’s case, a yellow card was the minimum appropriate decision.”
