The Curious Case of Moises Caicedo’s Non-Sendoff for the Tackle on Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch

During the heated Carabao Cup final, a contentious incident unfolded as Moises Caicedo’s brutal tackle left Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch injured, leading to a surprising turn of events. Despite the severity of the foul that forced Gravenberch off the field on a stretcher, referee Chris Kavanagh opted not to show a card to Chelsea’s Caicedo, allowing play to continue.

The Ecuadorian midfielder’s challenge, catching Gravenberch high on the ankle with his studs, prompted a VAR check. However, the outcome raised eyebrows, as the VAR did not recommend a red card. According to the Liverpool Echo, the challenge was deemed reckless rather than constituting serious foul play, leading to the on-field decision standing.

While there is a compelling argument that Caicedo should have at least received a yellow card, the VAR lacks the authority to retroactively issue cards. Despite it being his second late challenge of the match, following an earlier foul on Wataru Endo, Caicedo’s on-field decisions went unaltered.

Former Premier League referee Mike Dean, providing commentary for Sky Sports, expressed his view on the incident, stating, “It’s a bit like yesterday [Harry Maguire on Sasa Lukic], but not as severe… it could’ve been a caution.” Dean emphasized that while the VAR cannot directly inform the referee, in such cases, advising on a yellow card would be appropriate.

The aftermath of Gravenberch’s injury adds to Liverpool’s woes, with key players already sidelined due to injuries, including Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Allison, and Dominik Szoboszlai. The debate over the VAR decision intensifies, leaving fans and pundits questioning the consistency and effectiveness of officiating in crucial encounters.