There was lots to admire about Arsenal’s 1 – 0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield, particularly the defensive discipline and determination that enabled them to withstand sustained pressure from the home side.
However, one incident that left an unpleasant taste in the mouth was the apparent attempt by Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister to get Arsenal’s Noni Madueke sent off.
During a confrontation between the two players, Mac Allister went to ground clutching his face, giving the impression that he had been struck by his opponent. The obvious suspicion was that he was trying to persuade the referee that Madueke had committed an offence serious enough to warrant a red card.
Television replays clearly showed that Madueke had just been standing his ground, and, if there was any contact, it was minimal at least.
There is a world of difference between exaggerating the impact of a tackle and attempting to have an opponent dismissed by suggesting that he has committed an act of violent conduct.
Football is a fiercely competitive sport, and players will inevitably try to gain every possible advantage. They appeal for decisions, exaggerate contact, waste time, and occasionally indulge in behaviour that would be unacceptable in most other professional environments.
However, there is a line, and attempting to deceive a referee into dismissing an innocent opponent crosses it.
A red card might have fundamentally altered the outcome of the match. Had Madueke been dismissed, Arsenal would have been forced to defend their slender lead with ten men against a Liverpool side already exerting considerable pressure.
The consequences could also have extended beyond the afternoon itself. A dismissal for violent conduct normally carries a three-match suspension, potentially depriving Arsenal of an important player for several subsequent fixtures.
And there is the question of reputation. A player wrongly accused of striking an opponent can find himself condemned by supporters, commentators, and social media before the evidence has been properly examined.
Mac Allister is a World Cup winner, an established international, and a senior professional at one of England’s biggest clubs. He should know better.
Whilst Liverpool supporters might argue that gamesmanship is common, and that players from every club are guilty of similar behaviour, that does not make it right.
Given that VAR are happy to intervene in so many situations, why did the officials not study this incident with the same forensic detail they give to the most debatable of offside calls, and tell the referee what Mac Allister had done.
If football is serious about protecting its integrity, deliberate attempts to secure an opponent’s dismissal through deception deserve meaningful punishment.
Mac Allister should reflect on his behaviour. Winning matters, particularly in a fixture of this significance, but there are ways of competing that professional footballers should never regard as acceptable.
And if Liverpool have any integrity as a football club, somebody should be telling Mac Allister this week that there can be no repeat of such behaviour.
