VAR referee, Stuart Attwell has explained why Aaron Cresswell was not sent off for his tackle on Jordan Henderson in West Ham’s 3-2 win over Liverpool on Sunday.
According to the VAR referee, the challenge on Henderson by Cresswell ‘didn’t have the required force or intensity’ for a player to be sent off.
The defeat on Sunday was Liverpool’s first in the Premier League this season which also put them four points behind league leaders, Chelsea.
Cresswell flew in on Henderson in the eighth minute of the game but referee Craig Pawson did not even award a free kick for Liverpool, despite Henderson remaining on the ground for several minutes.
Attwell, who was the VAR referee in charge of the West Ham vs Liverpool game, decided not to step in and overturn Pawson’s decision.
And in a statement released to Sky Sports after the game, Attwell’s said the challenge ‘didn’t have the required force or intensity or clear contact’.
Liverpool boss, Jurgen Klopp had already described Cresswell’s tackle on Henderson as “a reckless challenge.”
“Even though he touches the ball, you can’t go in like that as anything can happen. You can say he touched the ball but you have to control your body.”
