Premier League axe ref Kevin Friend from next fixtures after Diogo Jota penalty gaffe

Referee Kevin Friend will not be selected for the next round of Premier League fixtures.

The last time he officiated a game he awarded Liverpool a highly controversial penalty in their 3-1 win at Crystal Palace.

With the score at 2-1 Diogo Jota raced clear and bundled into Eagles goalkeeper Vicente Guaita with minutes remaining.

Friend gave a goal kick before VAR begun checking for a penalty with the man at Stokely Park, Craig Pawson, advising him to go to the monitor.

As has been the case this season, Friend analysed the slow motion replays and changed his decision.

It was the 49th time a referee had been advised to consult the pitch side monitor and every time the original decision has been changed.

Friend's reversal copped heavy criticism and he will not be given a game when the team's resume their fixtures in the middle of next week.

He has also not been selected for VAR duty.

Patrick Vieira was incensed by the decision, with the ball seemingly beyond Jota when he clashed with Guaita.

“I don’t even want to talk about it,” the Palace boss said after the game, before then saying: “That was a really poor decision from the referee.

“I looked at it from every angle and I still don’t understand how that can be a penalty. In meetings with the referees they explained to coaches that contact is part of the game, and if there is not obvious contact there is not going to be a penalty.

“Here, there was no way Jota – who I believe was really smart, and the referee quite naive – could get the ball back and try to score.

"That decision took our hope away of getting back into the game and getting a point.”

Former Premier League ref Dermott Gallagher claimed after the contest that he thought the original decision not to award a