The controversy surrounding the decision by Liverpool's referee to award penalty kicks for a goal in the match against Manchester City, sparked outrage and controversy among fans and football enthusiasts alike. The incident occurred during the second half of the game on Sunday, August 15th, 2020, when City scored two goals to take a 2-0 lead at halftime.
Liverpool's referee, Mark Warburton, had been given a yellow card for a controversial foul on City defender Andy Robertson. However, he did not immediately flag it as such and instead awarded the penalty kick for the first time after City scored their second goal of the night.
The decision was widely criticized by both fans and experts in football, with some suggesting that it violated the rules of fair play and fairness. Some even went so far as to suggest that the referee should have been banned from officiating in future matches.
However, the Liverpool Football Club management defended the decision, stating that they were confident that Warburton would be able to resolve any issues that arose. They also argued that the penalty was unnecessary and that the players had already made clear that they wanted to continue playing the game.
Despite this, the decision was met with widespread opposition and criticism from fans and media outlets. Many believed that the decision was unfair and that it was a violation of the spirit of fair play and respect for the opponent.
In the end, the outcome of the match was decided through a replay, which saw City win the match 2-1. While it is impossible to know exactly what happened in the final whistle, the controversy surrounding the decision has left many fans feeling frustrated and angry about the injustice done to them.