An explanation has been given as to why Ibrahima Konate wasn't sent off during Liverpool's 3-2 win over Newcastle on Monday night. The contest was expected to be a fiery one, with two sets of rowdy supporters and the Alexander Isak drama surrounding the fixture, and the drama on the pitch certainly lived up to expectations. The visitors stole all three points despite being largely outplayed, thanks to teenager Rio Ngumoha's 100th-minute winner.
Anthony Gordon also made headlines after being sent off for his ill-timed lunge on Virgil van Dijk at the end of the first half — a decision that potentially cost the 10 men of Newcastle all three points. However, while some Liverpool fans argued that the game was already 10 vs 10 because of one player's poor performance, some of the Magpies faithful believe that Konate should actually have been sent off for a second bookable offence that wasn’t even awarded as a free-kick.
Explanation Given to Why Konate Avoided Second Yellow Card
The incident in question occurred shortly after Hugo Ekitike struck Liverpool's second of the night, as Bruno Guimaraes looked to play through Harvey Barnes. Konate, who had already been booked in the first 45, tried to stop the Englishman in his tracks and knocked the forward to the floor.
On Sky Sports' commentary, Chris Sutton described the challenge as a "shoulder to shoulder," but on closer inspection, it appears as though the French defender instead opted to use both hands to push Barnes to the floor. This left many baffled as to how not only Konate wasn't penalised, but how Simon Hooper even decided against awarding Newcastle a free-kick.
The Telegraph's Luke Edwards was at St James' Park and responded to the tackle after seeing it again, posting to X: "I've just seen the foul by Konate on Barnes in the second half again. We didn't have any replays in the press box. Erm, well, it was a clear shove with arm, wasn't shoulder to shoulder and it was in his back. That's a second yellow card. Referee didn't even give the foul."
A similar sentiment was also shared by The Sunday Times' Duncan Castles, who posted: "And Ibrahima Konate's last-man shove on Harvey Barnes is a clear foul that should have been a second yellow card."
While no official explanation has been given as to why a second booking wasn't awarded to the former RB Leipzig man, one could possibly be found in the International Football Association Board's [IFAB] guidance on awarding fouls. An updated threshold for the 2025/26 season has been given which states:
"Match officials in the Premier League will maintain a high threshold for penalising challenges - not every contact is a foul - while protecting player safety. The higher threshold will continue to be applied to handball offences too."
As a result, it appears as though referees are being encouraged to be far more lenient with their onfield decisions. However, this has left fans concerned that it means decisions such as the one in favour of Konate at St James' Park will occur more frequently, with one responding: "I noted from the new IFAB laws/PL football principles for the 2025/2026 season that referees have been advised not to penalise every challenge. IMO, this will lead to many genuine fouls being ignored."