Liverpool recovered in the first half of their Sunday afternoon match against Wolverhampton Wanderers, grabbing a 2-0 lead at halftime following a difficult couple of games. Arne Slot’s team won the first half thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz.
Ibrahima Konate can count himself lucky not to have been sent off before halftime, but it could have been a very different outcome. The club had a fairly ordinary half. The defender was given a yellow card early in the match and had two chances to receive another one.
Instead, he escaped further punishment and finished out the half with his side.
Konate Kicked the Ball Away
He did so after receiving his first yellow
According to the rules, it is a bookable infraction to kick the football away after play has stopped, and players who do so are typically given a yellow card. It’s interesting to note, though, that Konate kicked the ball away in rage immediately after receiving a booking for yanking on a Wolves player’s shirt, yet he was not disciplined for it. Players like Gabriel Martinelli have previously been given two yellow cards in a row after kicking the ball away and committing a foul, so the Liverpool player may count himself fortunate that this didn’t happen on Sunday.
No second yellow given for Konate for kicking the ball away if any player that doesn’t play for Liverpool has done it he would have been sent off pic.twitter.com/7NfBQDBenx
— MR (@MarmoushRole) February 16, 2025
Football supporters quickly flocked to social media to express their annoyance at the occurrence and to emphasise that he ought to have been dismissed. On X (Twitter), one fan posted: “Should have been a Martinelli double yellow special!” That opinion was expressed by another onlooker, who wrote: “He should have had three yellows by now.” The unfairness was brought to light by a third enthusiast, who said, “What a joke.”
However, that was not the only instance in which he could have been given his marching orders and a second yellow card during the first half.
When Konate collided with Cunha
The task was inadequate.
Konate didn’t hold back and ended up colliding brutally with Matheus Cunha just before halftime, even though he was lucky to still be on the pitch. He charged at the attacking midfielder just outside the Liverpool area, who headed the ball away just before Konate collided with him and knocked him down. Although a free kick was given after he collided with the Wolves player’s head, the referee did not consider it a bookable offence.
LIVARPOOL ! No 2nd yellow for Konate and now they take him off conveniently in the second half !
Thanks again @FA_PGMOL pic.twitter.com/ynsLIslwK8
— The Arsenal Lens 🔍 (@YouFpl) February 16, 2025
Fans were incensed by the issue once more. One commented, “This was shocking,” on X. One tweeted, “Absolute corruption,” criticising the Premier League, while another said, “Konate should have been sent off.” Premier League is over.
To avoid giving the referee another chance to award him a second yellow card, Liverpool, predictably, substituted the defender at halftime.
