Page 2 - Newspaper RZ Times

27 August 2025 | Wed THE RZ TIMES Issue 007

SPORT

Did ‘late flag’ offside F1 driver swearing ‘This means more’ -
why some fans booed
law expose Awoniyi to penalties reduced after

serious injury? outcry Alexander-Arnold

Source : BBC NEWS A revised version serious offences”.
of the FIA penalty Previously, there As Trent Alexan- Liverpool.
guidelines, external were multipliers for der-Arnold stripped
issued to stewards drivers from high- off his training gear on ‘It feels like a
on Wednesday has er-level champion- Sunday, ready to make betrayal’
removed the threat ships - F1 drivers’ what would likely be
of a race ban, and fines were increased his penultimate ap- Lifelong Liverpool
dramatically cut the four times compared pearance as a Liverpool fan Carl Duffy, 41,
level of fine that can be with the base level - player at Anfield, the was at the game with
applied. Previously, F1 but these have also boos from some had his daughter in the
drivers could be fined been removed. The already begun. After main stand, and said
€40,000 (£33,700) new document also more than two decades both of them booed
for a first offence, and differentiates between with the club he grew Alexander-Arnold’s
double that plus a ban offences committed in up supporting, Alex- introduction. “The
for a second offence. “controlled” and “un- ander-Arnold, now reason we booed comes
The injury suffered Hackett said players Now, the initial controlled” environ- 26, faced the wrath of down to a number of
by Nottingham Forest are “exposed to injury” level of fine has been ments. This effectively a percentage of their things, some of which
striker Taiwo Awoniyi by delaying an offside reduced to €5,000 differentiates between fans. in isolation would
has raised questions flag. “With the intro- (£4,200) and the po- things drivers say and It was his first ap- make this scenario
about the future of duction of VAR came tential for a ban lifted, do within competition pearance for Liverpool different but combined
the offside law. The the process of assistant although “more severe and in forums such since announcing he it was always going to
27-year-old was placed referees delaying the penalties” may still as news conferences, would leave when his lead to this,” Duffy
into an induced coma flag to indicate offside be imposed for “very where adrenaline and contract expires on 30 explained.
on Tuesday after until the outcome - June. He came on as a “Trent claims to
requiring surgery on either a goal or posses- 67th-minute substitute be a local lad whose
an abdominal injury sion of the ball by the to a chorus of boos, dreams came true,
sustained when he col- defence,” he told Radio which drowned out always talking about
lided with the post in 5 Live. those inside the stadi- watching the 2005
a 2-2 Premier League “This is to ensure um applauding. Champions League
draw against Leices- where the assistant It is expected that trophy coming home
ter City at the City referee makes an error the right-back will from his house on
Ground. on an offside decision, join La Liga side Real Queens Drive. His idol
Awoniyi was at- it doesn’t impact on Madrid. Since burst- was Steven Gerrard.
tempting to get on the the goal being ruled ing on to the scene as Everything about him
end of a cross by wing- out incorrectly. Sadly, a teenager under the screamed ‘he’s just the
er Anthony Elanga. this practice does management of Jurgen same as us’.
He received medical expose the risk to Klopp, Alexander-Ar- “We identified with
attention for several players of injury.” In risk are not influencing The decision to nold has won every- him, he was living our
minutes and had to March 2021 Wolves factors. introduce the potential thing there is to win at dream. To us it gets no
leave the field after goalkeeper Rui Patricio It remains the for heavy fines and club level in England - bigger than Liverpool
initially attempting to was carried off on a case that drivers can bans was made in the finishing with a second being on top and
carry on. He was later stretcher following 15 be punished for bad wake of events last Premier League title being part of that. “In
taken to hospital after minutes of on-field language, abuse of year, when F1 world for him and a 20th our minds nothing is
his condition wors- treatment after he officials, criticism of champion Max Ver- top-flight success for
ened. Forest owner collided with team- the FIA or “general stappen was forced to Source : BBC NEWS
Evangelos Marinakis mate Conor Coady making and display of do the F1 equivalent
walked on to the pitch against Liverpool. political, religious and of community service
at full-time to speak to Patricio took a personal statements or after swearing in a
manager Nuno Espiri- blow to the head as he comments notably in news conference at the
to Santo, “frustrated” and Coady attempted violation of the general Singapore Grand Prix.
by the medical team’s to stop Mohamed principle of neutrality The drivers followed
“misjudgement”. Salah from scoring. promoted by the FIA that with an open
Replays showed The flag was raised under its statutes”. letter to the FIA asking
Elanga was offside in for offside after Salah For this latter it to treat them like
the build-up to the scored. Liverpool offence, as well as any “adults”.
incident. The assistant manager Jurgen Klopp “public incitement to And it comes two
referee followed pro- said: “It was an awful violence or hatred”, weeks after Mercedes
tocol by allowing the situation. It was a the fine is higher, at driver George Russell,
passage of play to con- proper shock.” €20,000 (£16,800). a director of the Grand
tinue, but the severity In December The FIA described the Prix Drivers’ Associa- bigger than Liverpool, exit leaves in the squad
of Awoniyi’s injury has 2023 Manchester City development as “major tion, called for “action” that’s how it is here. but said the emotional
raised doubts about defender John Stones improvements” to ap- from the FIA on the It feels like a betrayal, aspect was tough to
the application of the was sidelined for a pendix B of the sport- matter rather than a backstab, like accept. Richard Davis,
law. month after injuring ing code. The move words after president everything that was 50, was at the game
an ankle in a collision follows widespread Mohammed Ben Su- said before wasn’t really against Arsenal and
‘Players are with Everton’s Beto. criticism of the stricter layem had teased this true, or at least not as also condoned the
true as was portrayed.”
booing from some
exposed to injury’ “There are lots approach, which was move on his Instagram
of injuries in this introduced in January, account. Duffy isn’t worried supporters. “I am a
about the hole
fan, and this does
Former Premier situation. Best option by drivers in F1 and Alexander-Arnold’s mean more.”
League referee Keith to follow the game.” beyond. Source : BBC NEWS

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