Andoni Iraola just flat-out said he’ll tell his players to dive in the future after Liverpool got absolutely robbed of a penalty during their 1-0 loss to Arsenal on Sunday. Seriously, after watching that game, the Liverpool boss is straight up telling the world that managers should instruct their players to hit the deck if they want a call.
The Call That Wasn’t: A Controversial Grab
So, here’s the deal: Liverpool was down 1-0 after Kai Havertz snagged the opener. Bradley Barcola whipped in a cross, and Alexander Isak went for the header. What happened next? Jurrien Timber clearly grabbed Isak’s shirt. You could see it! But Isak, being the honest player he is, stayed on his feet. And what did referee Andy Madley do? Nothing. He waved it off.
Then it went to VAR, with Stuart Attwell on duty. Guess what? VAR determined there wasn’t “enough” in the tug to overturn the decision. Iraola, like any manager who just watched his team get shafted, was livid. He told Match of the Day that it was a “clear grab of the shirt.” Isak was right there, in front of the goal, ready to head it in, but Timber’s pull stopped him cold. Iraola’s frustration was palpable: “If he goes to the floor, they call the penalty 100%. It should be like this but it is what it is. Next time, the managers should tell Alex to go to the floor, otherwise they won’t call it.” Isak even spoke to Timber after the incident, but he didn’t even appeal to the ref. Talk about a brutal blow in a pivotal moment, especially when Danny Murphy called it a “big moment in the game” where Arsenal got lucky.
“You Have To Dive”: The Uncomfortable Truth
Iraola isn’t mincing words. When asked what the answer is going forward, he flatly stated: “The answer is you have to dive, if you don’t dive they won’t call it.” He confirmed to Sky Sports that yes, he absolutely will be telling Isak and other players to go to the floor. When BBC Sport asked in his news conference if he’d tell his players to be “more smart,” Iraola’s response summed up the entire frustrating situation: “It’s a shame you ask me this question, but honestly, yes, we have to tell them, go down, because they’re not going to call it otherwise. And then referees complain why they go down. Because if you don’t go down, you don’t call it. Then it’s like, no, you are all the time going down.”
He made it clear that Isak is an honest player who goes for the ball, and anyone watching could see the “clear, clear pull.” The official line was that because it was “minimal contact” and a “slight tug” rather than “sustained holding,” play continued. Former Premier League assistant ref Darren Cann even said Timber took a “huge risk” and it “could easily have been given on another day.” He acknowledged it’s “right on the limit.” Even Gary Neville chimed in on Sky, calling Isak’s reaction “unnatural” for a center forward. Liverpool also saw another penalty shout get waved off when Cody Gakpo went down under pressure. It’s a rough day when honesty might be costing your team big.
This whole mess, according to Iraola, isn’t going to change even if Pro Ref, the Premier League’s refereeing body, offers an apology. It seems the message is loud and clear from the top: play acting might just be part of the game now if you want a fair shake.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by BBC Sport.
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