SHOCKER: Liverpool’s letter to FA revealed as reason behind Super Curtis Jones ban explained….

Liverpool argued it was “not appropriate” for VAR to intervene in the sending-off of Curtis Jones at Tottenham Hotspur as the reasons behind the midfielder’s three-match ban being upheld emerged.

The Reds wrote to the FA earlier this month after the midfielder was shown a red card for a tackle on Yves Bissouma during their 2-1 Premier League defeat on September 30. Jones had initially been shown a yellow card which was subsequently upgraded by referee Simon Hooper after being told to review footage of the incident by VAR Darren England.

Jurgen Klopp’s side failed in an appeal to have the suspension of Jones reduced, with the 22-year-old forced to sit out Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Brighton prior to the international break and also sidelined for the forthcoming Merseyside derby and home fixture with Nottingham Forest.

In documents released by the FA, Liverpool claimed in their written reasons that “the intervention of VAR was not appropriate and has pushed the referee to arrive at a decision which he should not have”. After the Tottenham game, Klopp questioned the use of still images to determine the dismissal of Jones.Making clear why Jones was harshly treated, Liverpool stated the midfielder was “clearly focused” on the ball and did not use “excessive force”, and was “only interested in playing the ball” and “poking” it away from Bissouma.Jones also shared his side of the story, stating: “My sole intention was to touch the ball away from my opponent and into the path of my team mate, Luis Diaz who I could see to my left hand side. I did not consider myself as challenging an opponent for the ball as I felt I had possession of the ball and was trying to move the ball to stop my opponent gaining contr

Explaining their decision to reject Liverpool’s appeal, the FA said: “After careful consideration, the commission believed CJ (Curtis Jones) placed the opposition player at undue risk due to the nature of the challenge. The

challenge by CJ was deemed a bad tackle and whilst the player gets a bit of the ball, his foot goes over the ball catching the opposition player with studs up and almost straight leg.

“The challenge was made with a degree of intensity, and in relation to the position of the feet, the panel rejected the claim that the player intended to poke the ball to his team-mate. The Panel noted that if they did accept the attempt to poke the ball to a team-mate then the Player was clearly out of control and unable to fulfil the desired action, thus endangering the safety of the opponent.”