Leicester City boss says it’s ‘beyond belief’ Arsenal star wasn’t sent off

Leicester City manager Steve Cooper says it is ‘beyond belief’ that Arsenal star Riccardo Calafiori wasn’t sent off during their clash on Saturday.

The Foxes thought they had earned a valuable point at the Emirates after levelling it up from 2-0 down only for Arsenal to score twice in injury time to win 4-2.

Cooper was left angry after the match that Calafiori avoided a second yellow card for a foul on his player Facundo Buonanotte.

‘I don’t want to make the headlines around referees, because I’m trying to take responsibility for a team trying to do better in the Premier League, but it’s a clear foul on Jamie Vardy for the first goal and the left-back has to get sent off for a second yellow,’ Cooper said.

‘There’s so much more we could say. The whole game knows, but I’m not going down that road today.

‘We were very disappointed with a foul not being given on Vards for the first goal.

‘And although we don’t come into games trying to get players sent off, why he hasn’t sent off Calafiori is a little bit beyond belief.

‘Because of the spell we’re in and the spell that I’m in personally, I’m trying to not let referees’ decisions be the headline, as I’m trying to take responsibility for a team that needs to get better results. But we feel those were two poor decisions.’

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was quizzed about the incident after the match too and admits he was ‘really worried’ Calafiori was going to get sent off.

‘I haven’t seen the action but I got really worried when that happened because he gave the foul, but I haven’t seen the replay,’ Arteta said.

Meanwhile, the Arsenal boss was also asked about title rivals Manchester City dropping points to Newcastle United in a 1-1 draw earlier in the day.

‘It’s the sixth game in the Premier League,’ Arteta added. We are in September, so we want to win every game and do our best to do that, and that’s it.

‘Let’s go game by game and try to improve every week.’