The guilt was written all over Fabinho’s face.
He knew his challenge from behind on Brighton’s young striker Evan Ferguson was bad.
He knew his studs had sunk into Ferguson’s leg. He knew it was worthy of a red card.
Liverpool’s Fabinho reacts following his controversial challenge on Brighton’s Evan Ferguson
Yet somehow, even with Neil Swarbrick as VAR, Fabinho remained on the field. The midfielder escaped punishment when every right-minded fan knew he should have been dismissed.
Referee David Coote missed it in real time and Swarbrick messed up from Stockley Park.
The sending off for Sheffield United’s Daniel Jebbison — for next to nothing — against Wrexham made this one even worse.