The main talking point from last night’s EFL Cup semi-final first leg was referee Stuart Attwell’s decision not to show Tottenham midfielder Lukas Bergvall a second yellow card for a challenge on Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimika.
Bergvall had already been booked, although the replays showed little contact after Luis Diaz when he hacked at Tsimika as the Greek full-back charged late at the Tottenham Stadium.
Attwell took a great view of the incident but, having an advantage, chose not to return to dismiss the teenage Swede.
Liverpool were furious with captain Virgil van Dijk and manager Arne Slot venting their frustration at the match referees.
With Czymika out having received treatment on the pitch and Liverpool reduced to 10 men, Spurs immediately pushed the ball forward and Dominic Solanke played in Bergvall to score the only goal of the game four minutes from time end. Despite the late pressure, the home side held on to take a slender advantage at Anfield for the second leg on 6 February.
What do the laws say?
Page 110 of the IFAB Laws of the Game states:
If the umpire plays advantage for an offense for which a caution/emission would have been given had play been stopped, that warning/emission must be issued when the ball is next out of play.
However, if the offense deprived the opposing team of an obvious scoring opportunity, the player is cautioned for unsportsmanlike conduct. if the offense interfered with or stopped a promising attack, the player does not receive a warning.
That’s the rule Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou mentioned after the match. In his view, Bergvall’s tackle was “to stop a promising attack” and therefore did not deserve a booking.
However, the law continues…
The advantage should not apply in situations involving a serious foul, violent conduct or a second bookable offense unless there is a clear opportunity to score a goal. The referee must send the player off when the ball is next out of play.
As it was not a situation where Liverpool had a ‘clear chance to score’, Atwell should have stopped play and sent Bergvall off the field.
“He had a big influence on the game”
Arne Slot shares his thoughts on whether Lukas Bergvall should have been on the pitch to score the winner for Tottenham 💠pic.twitter.com/LAmHueA8rZ
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 8, 2025
What the coaches and players said
Postecoglou said: “He was not lucky to be on the pitch (at the time he scored the goal). If the advantage is played and it is not a cynical tackle, then it is not a yellow. In the last two months we have been screaming about it and this is what they told us.”
Slot said: “I think anyone would rather be given the card (for Bergvall) than have the advantage that he played 40 yards from his own goal. The other question is: was it reckless enough to play advantage and come back and say the tackle was still reckless? And enough to give a yellow?’
Van Dijk told Sky Sports: “I think it was pretty obvious it was going to be a second yellow (for Bergvall). It was pretty clear. And a minute later he scores the winner…coincidence.
“He (the referee) was wrong in my opinion and I told him that. He thinks he didn’t, but it was pretty obvious and everyone on the sidelines knew it had to be yellow.
“There’s a linesman, a fourth official there, there’s VAR, a referee and he doesn’t get a second yellow. I’m not saying that’s why we lost tonight, but it was a big moment in the game.”
