Popes red

[sherwoodmag]

Rules must have changed since I was a kid,I remember a game in 1958/9 when the Blackpool keeper handled the ball outside the box at SJP.He was not sent off,we got a free kick outside the box and scored,George Eastham If My memory is correct.
There was no subs then so I would have remembered if an outfield player had been put in to replace the keeper

[ex_pat_magpie]

Doesn't the rule state the sending off occurs only if he is the last man in defence, which if I recall correctly he wasn't.

[Kal]

Anthony Taylor the referee is from Manchester, our next game (without Pope) is against Manchester and no, Pope was NOT the last man in defence when he handled the ball.

[toptoon]

It was a clear red, lads.

It’s a cup final and it’s a lot more down to ‘heart’ and attitude on the day than a league game. All the players need to step up to the plate and play a great game whether it’s Karius, Bruno or ASM.

[HughieG]

Yep, the sending off is completely fair as it was a deliberate handling of the ball outside the penalty area by Pope. Those are the rules. Have no idea what he was thinking in that situation, but I still love him.

[Kal]

Yep, the sending off is completely fair as it was a deliberate handling of the ball outside the penalty area by Pope. Those are the rules.

If the hand ball prevents a clear goal scoring opportunity yes, but at the moment the offence occurred we had a player between Salah and our goal. Therefore it was not a CLEAR goal scoring opportunity. Should have been a free kick to Liverpool and a yellow for Pope.

[HughieG]

If the hand ball prevents a clear goal scoring opportunity yes, but at the moment the offence occurred we had a player between Salah and our goal. Therefore it was not a CLEAR goal scoring opportunity. Should have been a free kick to Liverpool and a yellow for Pope.

I disagree. If Salah gets the ball, there is a clear goal-scoring opportunity for him if he kicks the ball towards the goal fast enough. Having read the rules and watched it again, I'm certain that the red card is fair enough, even though I would have happily have settled for a yellow.