By Keith Hackett

3rd May, 2023 | 8:00pm

Ex-Premier referee slams 'awful' Paul Tierney blunder as Liverpool controversy re-analysed

Paul Tierney made an ‘awful’ mistake by not showing a red card to Liverpool forward Diogo Jota for his challenge on Oliver Skipp.

That is the view of ex-Fifa and English top-flight referee Keith Hackett, who was speaking exclusively to Football Insider about Tierney’s controversial performance during Liverpool’s clash with Tottenham.

Jota was introduced to the match as a second-half substitute, and scored a last-gasp winner to hand Liverpool a dramatic 4-3 victory over Spurs on Sunday (30 April).

But prior to his late goal, Jota’s raised boot connected with Skipp in an incident which saw the Tottenham midfielder forced off the pitch with a head wound.

Spurs boss Ryan Mason complained after the match, claiming it was “the clearest red card you will see on the football pitch”.

Tierney booked Jota for the challenge, but the Portuguese forward escaped any further punishment even after a VAR check.

It has since been revealed that Tierney will not be appointed as a referee for any Premier League matches for the upcoming weekend fixtures after his controversial display.

“I think it’s quite clear – I think what Howard Webb needs to do is say to everybody that a foot raised above waist high is endangering the safety of an opponent,” Hackett told Football Insider.

“The scissor-kick element of the incident needs to be considered too, but it is endangering a player.

“I think in this case the boot is neck high – it was awful refereeing.”

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