Discussions erupted following Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo’s foul on Diogo Jota during their clash with Liverpool at Anfield.

Despite what looked like a clear red card offense, Adarabioyo remained on the pitch after pulling Jota down just five minutes into the match.

Fans were left questioning why the Chelsea center-back escaped a sending-off, especially given the similarities to an earlier incident involving Arsenal’s William Saliba.

The Foul That Wasn’t a Red

Adarabioyo fouled Jota as the Liverpool forward rushed to meet a long ball over the top.

With Adarabioyo being the last man, it seemed inevitable that the defender would be shown a red card.

However, the replays revealed that the ball was drifting towards the side of the pitch, reducing the likelihood of a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

This distinction saved Adarabioyo from an early dismissal, as officials decided against the red card.

Comparisons to Saliba’s Red Card

The incident drew instant comparisons to William Saliba’s red card during Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth just a day earlier.

Saliba was sent off for pulling down Evanilson, in what was deemed a goal-denying foul.

The key difference in these two situations, however, was the positioning of nearby defenders.

While Levi Colwill was close enough to cover Adarabioyo, Ben White, in Saliba’s case, wasn’t considered to be in a similar position to prevent a potential goal.

Officials’ Decisions Under Scrutiny

On Saturday, referee Robert Jones initially issued Saliba a yellow card, only to upgrade it to a red after reviewing the foul on the pitchside monitor.

As a result, Saliba will now miss Arsenal’s next game, ironically at Anfield.

On the other hand, Adarabioyo was only shown a yellow, leaving many Arsenal fans questioning the consistency of refereeing decisions in similar situations.

Fans and Pundits Weigh In

Liverpool eventually took the lead through a Mohamed Salah penalty, but Jota’s injury, sustained during the tussle with Adarabioyo, further fueled the debate.

Former referee Mike Dean commented on the situation during Sky Sports’ coverage, agreeing with the decision not to send Adarabioyo off, citing Colwill’s covering position.

He noted, “There was too much doubt, and the ball was moving towards the assistant referee.”

However, Arsenal supporters took to social media to express their frustration, feeling that their team had been unfairly treated.

Many pointed out the apparent inconsistency in the decisions, with some suggesting that Adarabioyo was fortunate simply because he wasn’t an Arsenal player.