The IFAB Law outlining why Lucas Bergvall SHOULD be sent off
The main talking point in last night’s EFL Cup semi-final first leg was referee Stuart Attwell’s decision not to show Tottenham midfielder Lucas Bergvall a second yellow card for a foul on Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas.
Bergvall had already been booked, albeit harshly, after replays showed little contact after he got ahead of Luis Diaz when he knocked Tsimikas to the ground as the Greek full-back pushed forward late on at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Attwell had an excellent overview of the incident but, having taken advantage, decided not to back down and sent the teenage Swede off.
Liverpool were left fuming as captain Virgil van Dijk and coach Arne Slot both expressed their frustration to the match officials.
With Tsimikas off the pitch following on-field treatment and Liverpool down to 10 men, Spurs immediately threw the ball forward and Dominic Solanke played in Bergvall to score the only goal of the game four minutes from time. Despite some pressure late in the game, the hosts were able to take a narrow lead in the second leg at Anfield on February 6th.
What the laws say
On page 110 of the IFAB Rules of the Game it says:
If the referee takes advantage of an offense for which a warning/expulsion would have been given if play had been stopped, that warning/expulsion must be given the next time the ball is out of play.
However, if the offense was to deny the opposing team an obvious scoring opportunity, the player will be cautioned for unsportsmanlike conduct; If the offense interfered with or stopped a promising attack, the player will not be cautioned.
That’s the rule that Spurs coach Ange Postecoglou referred to after the game. In his opinion, Bergvall’s tackle stopped “a promising attack” and therefore did not deserve a yellow card.
However, the law remains…
In situations involving serious foul play, violent behavior or a second cautionable offense, the advantage should not be applied unless there is a clear possibility of scoring a goal. The referee must send the player off the field the next time the ball is out of play.
As it was not a situation where Liverpool had a “clear chance to score”, Attwell should have stopped play and sent Bergvall off the field.
“It had a big impact on the game”
Arne Slot shares his thoughts on whether Lucas Bergvall should have been on the pitch to score the winning goal for Tottenham 💭 pic.twitter.com/LAmHueA8rZ
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 8, 2025
What the managers and players said
Postecoglou said: “He was unlucky to be on the pitch (at the time of the goal). If the advantage is played and it’s not a cynical tackle, then it’s not a yellow. We have been crying out for this for the last two months and this is what we have been told.”
Slot said: “I think everyone would prefer the card (to Bergvall) to be dealt to the advantage being played 40 meters from their own goal.” The other question is: was it reckless enough to play the advantage and then to say that the tackle was still careless? And enough to give yellow?”
Van Dijk told Sky Sports: “I think it was pretty obvious that there was going to be a second yellow card (for Bergvall). It was pretty clear. And a minute later he scored the winning goal… a coincidence.
“He (the referee) made a mistake in my opinion and I told him that. He thinks he didn’t do it, but it was pretty obvious and everyone on the sideline knew it should be a yellow.
“There’s a linesman, a fourth official, there’s a VAR, a referee, and he doesn’t get a second yellow. I’m not saying that’s the reason we lost tonight, but it was a big moment in the game.”
