Mohamed Salah should receive a one-match ban for simulation against Crystal Palace, according to a big claim from former referee Keith Hackett.
The 33-year-old sadly limped out of Saturday’s 3-1 victory at home to the Eagles in the Premier League, acting as a concern for the of the season.
In fact, there is a genuine chance that Salah may have played his final game for Liverpool, with Egypt doctor Ibrahim Hasaan dropping a key update over the weekend.
“The diagnosis has been confirmed for Mohamed Salah’s hamstring tear, and he will be sidelined from the pitches for four weeks,” Hassan said.
‘There is ongoing monitoring of Mohamed Salah’s condition, and his injury will not affect his participation in the 2026 World Cup.”
Now, Hackett has told Football Insider that Salah should receive a further blow, picking up a suspension for a supposed dive against Palace in the first half, with VAR overturning the penalty decision:
“It’s a dive. It’s an act of simulation, and it’s an easy yellow card for him to award. He’s seeing the incident for a second time, recognising the dive, and he has been deceived. This is an even stronger case than usual for a yellow card because he pointed to the penalty spot. Unless referees start to get to grips with acts of simulation, it’ll continue to grow.
“It’s on the increase, and it’s creating a problem for the referees. He’s gotten away with it, though. Kids will follow him, and that’s my concern. If the referee doesn’t act, the authorities need to. There should be a review taking place, confirm that it’s an act of simulation, and there should be a one-match ban.”
Surely no chance of a Mo Salah ban for Liverpool
These are extremely harsh words from Hackett, with Salah not feigning contact in the incident, amid an almost surprised reaction that the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
It would be a huge shock if retrospective action was taken against the Liverpool legend, and it’s now a case of hoping he is fit as soon as possible.
That may not be until Brentford at Anfield on the final day of the season, but even if Salah isn’t fully fit, he could surely be given a late cameo at worst, in order to receive the goodbye that he deserves.
