Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers tore into the “incredible” decision not to send off Marcel Sabitzer in Manchester United’s 3-0 victory on Saturday with Arsenal also name-checked in a furious post-match assessment.
The Foxes fell to a drab defeat at Old Trafford despite a promising start. Marcus Rashford twice got on the scoresheet with Jadon Sancho rounding off a comprehensive victory for United. There was controversy during the match, however.
January arrival Sabitzer crunched into Leicester defender Wout Faes during the first half - the Belgian defender left clutching his knee. VAR briefly looked at the incident but elected that it was not enough to garner a red card, a decision that left Rodgers aghast.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, the Northern Irishman said: “It is a sending off It’s a straight leg onto the knee. How it was not looked that and deemed that is incredible, when I see it.”
Rodgers then launched into further criticism of officials after pointing to an incident during Arsenal’s Manchester City defeat after Eddie Nketiah drew Ederson into a foul to win a penalty that was eventually dispatched by Bukayo Saka. “I don’t know [why a red card wasn’t shown],” the Leicester boss continued.
“We’ve seen in the last few weeks, some of the decisions. Someone has said it was maybe after an incident but I don’t buy that one.
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“If you look at Arsenal’s penalty at Manchester City, Eddie Nketiah is in goal and has a shot at goal, but the follow-through makes it a foul, which makes it a penalty. In this instance, even if the play has stopped, he’s followed through and straight-legged him right on his knee.”
Rodgers was not the only man to have thought that his side faced injustice at Old Trafford. Former Liverpool star Graeme Souness believed that Sabitzer should have been given his marching orders.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “For a start, he’s partly to blame because he’s on his heels, Faes, when this ball break from him not being alive to it, but that, Sabitzer has turned side-on to him, and that’s a classic case of if you’re going to go and do someone, that’s how you do it.
“You turn side-on. If he makes contact with the ball, what’s he going to do with the ball? He’s looking at the player.”
“I don’t care what some referee who’s never played the game has to say on that, that is a sending-off. If that’s not dangerous play, what is? Ask any professional footballer, he’s turned side-on, that’s a classic case of setting yourself up to do someone,” he added.
United increased their grip on third place with victory and are now seven points clear of Tottenham. In the meantime, Leicester remain in 14th and just four points clear of the relegation zone.
