Wataru Endo Exclusive: ‘Ipswich Town star should be getting extended ban’.

Keith Hackett believes Julio Enciso should have been sent off minutes into his Ipswich Town debut against Liverpool and served an extended ban.

The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee confidentially told Football Insider that relying on on-field rulings, as recommended by Howard Webb, should be avoided for challenges like Enciso’s on Wataru Endo. Enciso made his Tractor Boys debut against Anfield on Saturday (25 January), coming off the bench after arriving on loan from Brighton earlier that week. Hackett believes the Ipswich rookie should not have been on the pitch for so long as his team lost 4-1 against Liverpool.

Julio Enciso lucky not to see red at Liverpool

Arne Slot’s team was already 4-0 up when Enciso came on in the 79th minute of their play at the weekend. Liverpool had already secured victory with goals from Dominik Szoboszlai, Mo Salah, and Cody Gakpo, the second of which was subject to a lengthy VAR review. Just two minutes after his arrival, Enciso created another flashpoint in the game with a challenge on Endo in which he appeared to jump and turn, catching the midfielder in the face. That left the Japan international on the ground in discomfort for some minutes, but Salisbury eventually chose to simply book the Ipswich player.

However, some believe that Liverpool should have been playing against 10 men in the closing phases of the game, and that VAR should be directed to intervene in such situations. When asked by Football Insider whether Enciso should have been sent off for that challenge, Hackett responded: “I believe this could easily have been red. I think the player is fortunate; I believe the referee gave him the benefit of the doubt, which is why he received a yellow card. “But this could easily have resulted in a red card; you cannot dispute in that situation. But I believe the referee gave him a yellow card and said ‘okay fine’.

“I believe the referee has given him the benefit of the doubt. From my perspective, these challenges should be banned in a game. “Despite the fact that you don’t want to give a red card, I believe you should because the boot is high and in the facial area. “So it’s risking an opponent’s safety, it has considerable force, and it’s significant foul play, so I expect him to go. “He’s very fortunate that the referee has given yellow, and I’m surprised to some extent because I believe there’s this component of VAR that might come in and say, ‘Look, have a review of this’.

“These are the challenges where I do think, a yellow’s been given, I know that Howard Webb talks about referee’s call, but I think there’s an element here that says ‘have another look and make another call.”

Wataru Endo felt the full force of Enciso against Ipswich (credit: Getty Images). Although the visitors scored late on, Liverpool’s 4-1 triumph kept them six points clear at the top of the Premier League table.