Monday 7 March 2016 12:35, UK
Crystal Palace defender Damien Delaney insists referee Andre Marriner reluctantly awarded Liverpool a stoppage-time penalty.
Palace lost 2-1 with virtually the last action of the game when Christian Benteke netted a spot-kick after he went down inside the box with Delaney in close attendance.
Television replays showed Delaney pulled his left foot away before making any contact, only to clip Benteke with his right knee as he slid through.
The Republic of Ireland international addressed the issue on social media on Sunday evening, when he claimed Marriner said he did not believe it was a penalty.
"I can honestly say I didn't make contact with Benteke today and if there was slight contact I didn't impede him and certainly didn't feel there was enough to award a penalty in the 96th min ... If a penalty is awarded that late it has to be unequivocal," Delaney stated.
"I waited over an hour to speak with the officials and in fairness to Andre Marriner he said he didn't think it was a penalty but he trusted his linesman that much he awarded it.
"That is a big call. I looked at the referee immediately and he gave a goal kick. It was only afterwards I saw loads of people running towards the linesman. It sums us up at the minute.
"I did not feel any contact. When I saw him go down and looked around to the referee giving a goal kick, I thought it was the correct decision. Someone said the linesman was flagging furiously.
"There is no way he could have been 100 per cent sure. He gave it so quickly. I looked at it afterwards and he is flagging before he has even hit the ground. It looked like he could not wait to give it. It looked like he wanted to give it.
"I would like to see a crackdown on (diving). I did not think it was a penalty."
Delaney was further irked by the decision as he felt challenges on Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha had gone unpunished throughout the game.
"With the way the game was ref'd and the physicality of both teams it was unbelievably harsh. With how Wilfried and Yannick were man handled by Liverpool players over the course of the game, which I've no problem with, it was a really tough decision to take so late.
"All I can do is swallow it and hope to put this right."
