Liverpool fans have criticized referee Martin Atkinson for not awarding a clear penalty to Mohamed Salah during the team’s match against Burnley in the Premier League. Liverpool narrowly defeated Burnley with a single goal scored by Brazilian Fabinho in the match held on Sunday at Turf Moor, as part of the 25th round of the Premier League. Salah played the entire match and delivered a somewhat average performance, according to tournament reports.
Salah was brought down in the penalty area in the 22nd minute after a challenge from Dutch player Wout Weghorst, but the referee did not award a penalty, and the VAR did not intervene either. Liverpool fans took to Twitter to express their frustration with referee Atkinson for denying Salah a penalty and showed some dissatisfaction with Salah's performance in the match.
One fan criticized the referee, stating: "Referees and VAR are acting comically when it comes to clear penalties for Salah and Mane, and today there was a very obvious penalty for Mo... Imagine the goals he would score if he were an English player." Another agreed, writing: "The FA is doing everything it can to prevent Mohamed Salah from getting a penalty. Two clear penalties in two matches were not awarded."
Journalist Jack Moor, known for his Liverpool affiliation, stated: "Klopp needs to say something about what the refereeing is doing to Mohamed Salah by not awarding him penalties." One fan remarked: "A new penalty was not awarded because Mohamed Salah is not an English player."
Another fan tweeted: "Salah has been denied two penalties in consecutive matches, but hold on, some say that the refereeing supports Liverpool." English journalist Charlotte Coats from the Liverpool Echo echoed this sentiment, tweeting: "It seems referees have instructions not to award penalties to Mohamed Salah."
A fan wrote: "In two consecutive matches, penalties were not awarded to Mohamed Salah, both of which were clear penalties. This approach from referees and VAR has not helped Liverpool; this season, mistakes have cost us at least three points." Another fan noted: "Salah has not been awarded two penalties in consecutive matches, and he wins a very small percentage of fouls compared to other wingers, making you think....!"
A fan expressed: "If Mohamed Salah were an English player, he would have been awarded penalties in the last two matches." Meanwhile, another fan remarked: "Salah has been robbed of two penalties in three days; what if he were an English striker?"
One fan tweeted: "In two matches, clear penalties are not awarded, all because it’s Mohamed Salah. Imagine if that happened to Kane (Tottenham striker) or Jack Grealish (Manchester City player)." Another sent a harsh message to the FA, writing: "Are referees instructed not to award any penalties to Mohamed Salah? Two clear penalties in four days, one of which could be crucial to the end of the season... Does he have to be named Harry and have blond hair for decisions to be made?"
Another added: "I’m angry that no penalty was awarded to Mohamed Salah. What if he were an English player?" However, one fan criticized Salah’s performance in the match, stating: "The worst performance by Mohamed Salah this season; he made bad decisions, lost momentum, had poor ball control, and also passed poorly."
In conclusion, another fan tweeted: "We will see Mohamed Salah angry in the Champions League; you need to be patient."
