Jamie Carragher agrees with Curtis Jones being sent off against Spurs but fumes at technical decision that is becoming a ‘BIG problem’ and must be stopped

• Curtis Jones was shown a red card for a challenge on Spurs star Yves Bissouma
• Jamie Carragher is unhappy with the replays being shown of the incident
• Click HERE to listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s ‘It’s All Kicking Off’

Jamie Carragher understands why Curtis Jones was sent off against Tottenham at the weekend, but fumed at one technical decision that he feels impacted the decision of referee Simon Hooper.

The Liverpool midfielder was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Yves Bissouma in the first-half of the Premier League encounter after his foot rolled over the ball during the challenge and onto the bottom half of the Tottenham player’s leg.

Hooper initially showed Jones a yellow card for his challenge before being told to review the incident on the pitchside VAR monitor and as a result changed his decision to show red.

Liverpool have since appealed the decision in an effort to reduce the three-match ban and although Carragher doesn’t believe they will be successful in their efforts, he fumed at slow-motion replays being shown to officials.

Carragher admitted he is sick of such replays being shown and explained on Sky Sports: ‘I have got no problem with it being a red card – I would have liked to have seen it not given, not because of my angle but I always think as a referee, can you keep it 11 vs 11 on the pitch.

Curtis Jones (right) was sent off against Tottenham for this challenge on Yves Bissouma (left)

Simon Hooper reviewed the incident on a pitchside monitor after first showing a yellow card

‘My big problem was what the referee was shown when he went to the VAR monitor and how he got to that decision. I have said this for a while, but straight away with the first shot he has seen, people feel as though the referee is going to the monitor to have a second look at an incident – that does not happen, it is not true. What he is doing is he is being taken to the monitor to be shown why he has made a mistake.

‘We have to get that in our heads about VAR. That should not be the first shot, I don’t believe that. If the referee is going over to have a look, he should be shown the situation at full speed. I am sick of things being slowed down.

‘This was the angle in full speed, watch this and when you watch it at full speed you know it’s a strong challenge, hence why the referee has given a yellow card. Then, you slow it down and get to the actual decision, with Curtis Jones I actually have a bit of sympathy for him,’ he said.

The 45-year-old further claimed Jones was pulled back just before he made the unruly challenge and that caused him to lunge an extra distance to beat Bissouma to the ball.

Jamie Carragher admitted he is ‘sick’ of slow motion replays being shown to officials

Liverpool have currently appealed the red card that was shown to Jones (middle)

He added: ‘It’s all in really close proximity but when you are a player and you already have in your head what you are going to do, he just gets a slight tug of his shirt, it’s not a foul but it just stops him and pulls him back, hence why he has to stretch.

‘If you stop it there, because of what I have said about the referee seeing the still image – if he had seen that one before the challenge, you might have a different thought process, but he could still send him off,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Chelsea legend Frank Lampard agreed a red card was the right call but insisted there was no malicious intent from Jones in the challenge.

‘I watched this live and have been in that position, in close quarters with instant decision I felt sympathy for Curtis straightaway, no huge intent, follow through I don’t have problem with red card, not huge intention but in that split moment you think you might get there and then think you’re not, for me the right decision,’ he said.

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