Former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand, has revealed how shocked he was over the referee’s decision not to send off Liverpool defender, Ibrahima Konate during their Champions League clash against PSG.
The French side hosted the Premier League leaders in the Round of 16 first leg at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.
Liverpool secured a 1-0 win over the home side but the moment of controversy came in the 26th minute when Konate pushed Bradley Barcola in the back.
The French forward was running into the box when he brought down and Parisians were furious, as they believed Konate had fouled Barcola and stopped a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
However, referee Davide Massa did not listen to PSG’s protests and after a long VAR check, his decision stood.
Rio Ferdinand said on TNT Sports that he was stupefied by the decision.
“That’s a foul. The push is in the back. If that’s not a red card, I’ll be amazed. It will be a shame if they go down to ten men because you want the best players on the pitch for 90 minutes, but it’s a foul,” he said.
“Liverpool are lucky not to be two goals behind with ten men. I can’t believe how lucky Liverpool have been there.
“If Barcola and Konate were shoulder to shoulder then I get it. But Konate barges him basically on the numbers on his back, between his shoulder blades. How has VAR not picked that up?”
