There was controversy in the 51st minute of Manchester United’s Carabao Cup quarter-final tie against Everton, as Edinson Cavani went unpunished for some clear violent conduct.
In an off-the-ball incident, summer signing Cavani grabbed the neck of Everton ace Yerry Mina, nastily squeezing the ace’s Adam’s apple, which left the defender falling to the floor.
Bizarrely, referee Andy Madley clearly saw the incident, even blowing his whistle after it escalated, but still decided not to punish Cavani.
Madley’s oversight was shocking enough, but the use of VAR in this tie likely would’ve highlighted Cavani’s actions much clearer. He’s very lucky not to have seen a straight red card for this.
?? “Did he nip his throat? He grabbed hold of him for a prolonged period and then shoved him to the ground.”
Is Edison Cavani lucky to not have seen red for this earlier on in the game?
Watch live on Sky Sports Football ?
Follow online here ? https://t.co/mvj68WR3Ut pic.twitter.com/XuiaTeuL74— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 23, 2020
The ref was looking at Cavani giving Mina a chokeslam ?? pic.twitter.com/J1TLxleX3c
— ? (@RedDevil__19) December 23, 2020
Pictures from Sky Sports and DAZN.
Arsenal fans will be particularly annoyed when they see this as Granit Xhaka was sent off for violent conduct via a neck grab against Burnley following a VAR review, meanwhile Cavani’s gone unpunished.
Typical of the bias we see resulting from the total lack of accountability in English refereeing. It also raises a lot of questions about the complicity and bias of the media when they refuse to investigate what has been independently researched by academics.