“It’s an awful tackle. Tarkowski knows what he’s doing there FA, must take DRASTIC action”- Jamie Carragher rages at ‘shocking’ Sky Sports footage in Liverpool v Everton. Could the FA retrospectively punish Tarkowski?
Jamie Carragher was outraged by James Tarkowski’s challenge during the Everton vs. Liverpool match at Anfield on Wednesday night.
Tarkowski, 32, received a yellow card in the 11th minute after a reckless follow-through on Alexis Mac Allister while clearing the ball from the Everton box.
The incident was reviewed by VAR official Paul Tierney after referee Sam Barrott issued the yellow card, but despite widespread belief that the tackle was a clear red-card offense, Tierney upheld the original decision.
Carragher criticizes Tierney after Tarkowski incident The Premier League later described Tarkowski’s tackle as “reckless,” seemingly attempting to justify Tierney’s decision not to send Barrott to the pitch-side monitor.
Liverpool legend Carragher was furious with Tarkowski for the tackle and even more so with Tierney for failing to recognize it as a clear red-card challenge.
Speaking during Sky Sports’ halftime coverage (2 April, 8:55pm), Carragher said: “Sam Barrott was in a great position to make the call.
He should have seen it, he has to. It’s a horrific challenge, and he knows it should be a red card. There’s no debate about it.
“It’s a terrible tackle. Tarkowski knows exactly what he’s doing, and he has a history of this kind of challenge from his time at Burnley.
“The referee should have given the red, and for Paul Tierney not to intervene with VAR is shocking.”
Could Tarkowski face retrospective punishment? Tarkowski’s challenge certainly warranted a red card.
While the Premier League labeled it reckless, it was reckless to the extent that it put Mac Allister’s safety at risk.
Even Duncan Ferguson, speaking at halftime, said it was the kind of tackle that could break a player’s leg—and if Ferguson is saying that, it holds weight.
Whether Tarkowski will face further punishment remains to be seen. If the yellow card were upgraded to a red, he would face a three-match suspension.
The FA could choose to review the incident, but since it’s already been examined by Barrott, Tierney, and their team, they may opt to back their officials and avoid further action.
