‘The audacity’: Stephen Warnock slams referee’s ‘stinker’ decision against Everton today

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Stephen Warnock has criticised Craig Pawson and his officials following Everton’s defeat to Liverpool.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, the former defender questioned the ‘stinker’ of a decision made during the second half of today’s Merseyside derby.

Everton were handed a huge disadvantage on the half hour mark when Ashley Young was dismissed after being shown two yellow cards for as many fouls.

The decision to send Young off was criticised by some, and made even worse when Ibrahima Konate was allowed to remain on the pitch following a similar incident.

The Frenchman had already been booked when he fouled Beto, and Pawson’s decision not to send him off was met with boos from the Everton supporters and a very frustrated Sean Dyche – who was then booked himself.

Stephen Warnock has now slammed Pawson and has also criticised the rest of the officials involved.

“My big thing here is what is the assistant referee doing? What is the fourth official doing?” Warnock said.

“We keep getting told that they are a team of officials, then be a team! The only person who will be reprimanded for this is Craig Pawson, he will be the one lambasted for making a wrong decision.

“You’ve got three people here that could have told him he’d gotten that wrong. Help each other out, tell them ‘you’ve got it wrong there mate. It’s a second yellow.’

“Also the audacity then to book Sean Dyche for complaining, it’s a stinker of a decision.

“I could have a big bearing on this game. Everton could now be up against ten men and be going for the win again, it changes the momentum completely!”

Is Stephen Warnock right to slam the officials?

Whether you think Ashley Young deserved a second yellow or not, there was clear inconsistencies in the ref’s decision-making at Anfield today.

Konate’s foul on Beto was a definite yellow for me and it was ridiculous that he wasn’t dismissed, while Jurgen Klopp clearly knew he had gotten away with one when he substituted him just seconds later.

Liverpool went onto claim all three points at Anfield, while things could have looked very different if the Reds had gone down to ten men.

Another very poor decision from the Premier League officials that will go unpunished.