A controversial handball decision, during Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Brighton on Sat, Dec 13th, 2025. Diego Gomez was perhaps lucky to escape a red card for this high, shattering challenge on Florian Wirtz. Journalists, analysts and ex-football professionals alike are looking as hard as they possibly can at how this happened. That hasn’t stopped people from criticizing the refereeing decision that kept Gomez on the pitch.
The victory at Anfield served as a potent reminder of Liverpool’s power. Nonetheless, Gomez’s challenge on Wirtz grabbed the interest of most progressive watches. The controversial incident happened during the first half, as Gomez rushed in and threw his body into a wild tackle that left Wirtz crumpled on the turf. Even fans and analysts from all corners of the globe felt it was a challenge deserving of a red card based on its seriousness.
After the game, former Premier League ref and leading football pundit Dermot Gallagher said it was “inconceivable” that Gomez hadn’t received a penalty. Gallagher claimed the challenge was dangerous and could have caused serious harm to Wirtz. He observed that in situations such as these, officials need to show that the safety of the player will come first in all circumstances.
Jay Bothroyd, another high-profile football activist, echoed Gallagher’s call. He pointed out that when there isn’t any disciplinary action taken in situations as cut and dry as this, it makes the integrity of officiating on the football field questionable. Both pundits underscored an overall theme of the importance of consistently applying rules to ensure ongoing fairness in the sport.
Even though the incident clouded much of this match recap, Liverpool still pulled off a very solid 3-1 victory against Brighton. Finishes from the feet of their talented forwards secured their rich vein of form with a place at the top of the league table. The conversations around Gomez’s challenge didn’t stop there, as they continued to overshadow match-day analysis.
Most notably protested, we’re still acknowledging the challenging task ahead of match officials across the game on Saturday, who faced many contentious decisions in a single match. The anger and outrage ignited by Gomez’s challenge has stoked the embers of long-burning discussions about refereeing double standards and player behavior in elite-level football.
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