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Liverpool star Cody Gakpo 'should be banned' as forward accused of 'cheating'
Reach Daily Express | January 19, 2026 10:40 PM CST

Former FIFA referee Keith Hackett has called for the FA to investigate Liverpool's Cody Gakpo and issue a ban following an alleged dive during the Burnley match. The incident occurred with the game goalless when the Dutch forward went down under a challenge from Clarets midfielder Florentino Luis.

Supporters questioned the decision, and when Dominik Szoboszlai took the resulting spot-kick, his effort struck the crossbar. Many fans felt justice had been served following what they perceived as a dubious penalty award. Hackett, the former PGMOL chief, has taken his criticism a step further, advocating for a panel to hand out suspensions to players guilty of simulation.

Speaking to Football Insider, Hackett said: "This is a dive, and not a very good one. No way is this a penalty, and it's not even a clever one.

"Next, you really start to question the match official, and what he's seen, and also what VAR are doing to allow him to get to that decision.

"This was nowhere near a penalty. There are acts of simulation where players are really good, fooling referees, and you need a few replays to rule it out.

"This is why I've said we need a panel on a Monday, with a view to suspensions for players trying to cheat. We all want to win, but let's win properly."

Liverpool eventually opened the scoring just before the interval through Florian Wirtz, with the German midfielder proving to be Arne Slot's star performer on the day. However, Marcus Edwards levelled the score in the second half just after the hour mark, finding the back of the net to secure a crucial point on the road for the relegation battlers.

Burnley boss Scott Parker also believed the penalty decision was a soft one, but was satisfied with his team's second-half performance.

"We had to weather a lot in the first half but we showed more of our quality in the second half," he said.

"We changed a few things at half-time, it was important we were still in the game then, we were braver in possession and well worthy of our goal. It was an incredible finish (by Edwards).

"The penalty was soft but once the referee gives it on-field it's never going to be overturned. The key for us was getting in at half-time still in the game so we could fix a few things."


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