The referee criticised by Steve Cooper for “two poor decisions” in Leicester City’s 4-2 defeat to Arsenal has not been selected to officiate at a Premier League match this weekend.
Sam Barrott will, for the first time this season, not be involved in a Premier League fixture for a round of matches. There were two calls he made at the Emirates Stadium that particularly frustrated City boss Cooper, and both were highlighted on Match of the Day as incorrect decisions.
The first was a supposed foul on Jamie Vardy by William Saliba in the build-up to Arsenal’s opening goal, with play waved on by Barrott, who then booked Vardy and Cooper for their protests. In the second half, with the score at 2-2, already-booked Riccardo Calafiori tripped Facundo Buonanotte as he dribbled past him, but Barrott rejected the opportunity to show a red card, instead cautioning the City man for waving an imaginary card.
Speaking after the game, Cooper said: “We were very disappointed with a foul not being given on Vards for the first goal. And 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, as I’m trying to take responsibility for a team that needs to get better results. But we feel those were two poor decisions.”
On Match of the Day, host Gary Lineker, a City fan it should be added, said he “found it difficult to disagree” with Cooper’s complaints over the Calafiori incident. Speaking on Premier League Productions, former England captain Alan Shearer said the decision not to send off the Italian was “awful”.
Barrott has been involved in a Premier League match in some capacity, either as the main referee or as a fourth official, for every round of fixtures so far this season. But he won’t be involved this weekend.
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