Arsenal and Liverpool both hit bumps in their annual quest for the Carabao Cup. Arsenal hit a Newcastle shaped bump who beat them 2-0 in the first leg of the semifinal. Arteta,funnily,blamed the ball for the defeat. The ball,made by Puma,was stoutly defended by the EPL and they issued a statement to the effect stating…
“As is required throughout the professional game, the PUMA ball used in this season’s Carabao Cup and in EFL competition since 2021-22 is tested in accordance with the FIFA Quality Programme for Footballs and meets the FIFA Quality Pro standard.
“In addition to the Carabao Cup, the same ball has been successfully used in other major European leagues, including both Serie A and LaLiga and our three divisions in the EFL. All Clubs play with the same ball, and we have received no further comments of this nature following any of the previous 88 fixtures which have taken place in this season’s Carabao Cup.”
Highlights .
In the other semifinal Spurs beat Liverpool 1-0 and Lucas Bergvall was a the centre of a storm for not getting a second yellow card and then making matters worse by scoring the winning goal.
Slot did not blame the ball but was baffled by the referee’s reluctance to give another yellow card.
Highlights …