Gary Lineker says he ‘finds it difficult to disagree’ with Leicester City boss Steve Cooper that Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori didn’t warrant a second yellow card in the Gunners’ 4-2 win over the Foxes at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Italian summer signing Calafiori, already on a yellow card, stopped City loanee Facundo Buonanotte in his tracks as Cooper’s men attacked in the second half, having dragged themselves back into the contest. Rare goalscorer James Justin’s brace had drawn Leicester level after Arsenal had raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.
Rather than dish out a second booking for Calafiori, who had felled Buonanotte, referee Sam Barrott waved away the appeals and instead booked Buonanotte for gesturing that his opposing number should be collecting another caution for his actions. It was a call which incensed Cooper after the final whistle, as Arsenal dramatically prevailed with goals in stoppage time.
“Steve Cooper was not happy,” MOTD presenter and Leicester supporter Lineker said on air. “He thought Calafiori should’ve had another yellow card. I find it difficult to disagree with him.”
Pundit Micah Richards agreed, concluding: “Last week Trossard [in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw at Man City]… I didn’t think it was a yellow card for kicking the ball away. Today, with Calafiori, I think that’s a second yellow card. I think he was lucky to stay on the pitch.”
Former Arsenal favourite Theo Walcott joined the consensus, adding: “I agree, I thought it was very lucky, it was cynical.” When Lineker reminded Walcott that the scores were level at the time, Walcott quipped: “Quite sour about that, aren’t you Gary?” Lineker replied: “Well, I think Leicester obviously would’ve won 3-2 otherwise. So be it.”
Cooper, in his post-match press conference, assessed: “It’s a clear foul on Jamie Vardy for the first [Arsenal] goal and the left-back has to get sent off for a second yellow. There’s so much more we could say. The whole game knows, but I’m not going down that road today. We were very disappointed with a foul not being given on Vards for the first goal.
‘Although we don’t come into games trying to get players sent off, why he hasn’t sent off Calafiori is a little bit beyond belief. Because of the spell we’re in and the spell that I’m in personally, I’m trying to not let referees’ decisions be the headline. I’m trying to take responsibility for a team that needs to get better results, but we feel those were two poor decisions.”
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