Euro 2020: Jorginho escapes red card despite stamp on Jack Grealish’s knee

Italy midfielder Jorginho should have been SENT OFF in extra-time for stamp on England sub Jack Grealish, insist Alan Shearer and Frank Lampard: ‘It’s careless and endangering the safety of an opponent’

Italy midfielder Jorginho could count himself lucky to remain on the pitch after a horrible tackle on Jack Grealish in extra time the Euro 2020 final.

With the game deep into extra time, England were mounting pressure on Roberto Mancini’s side when Grealish and Jorginho both competed for a loose ball.

The Aston Villa playmaker slid in to take the ball, while Jorginho looked to take the ball off his toes. But he instead slipped on the ball and stamped fiercely on Grealish’s knee, who was left howling in pain. 

Italy’s Jorginho was lucky not to be sent off after a poor challenge on England’s Jack Grealish

Grealish required treatment and was in agony after Jorginho stamped on his knee in the game

Jorginho also went to ground and appeared to briefly return to his feet before seeing the prone Grealish and then staying on the floor himself, also apparently injured. 

After receiving treatment, Grealish was furious with the challenge and pointed referee Bjorn Kuipers to the stud marks on his knee. The Dutch referee chose only to give Jorginho a yellow card.   

Pundits were all unimpressed with Jorginho’s tackle, but were split over whether Kuipers should have sent him off.

Jermaine Jenas said the tackle was 'shocking' but agreed with the referee on the yellow card

Jermaine Jenas said the tackle was ‘shocking’ but agreed with the referee on the yellow card

On BBC, Jermaine Jenas describe the tackle as ‘shocking’.

‘Jack is fuming. He’s (Jorginho) gone with his studs, It’s a shocking challenge. It is a yellow, seeing it over and over again and the angle he’s gone in with his studs, it’s a terrible challenge. 

‘When I saw him get up and throw himself back down I thought, he’s done something wrong here.’

But after the match Alan Shearer was incensed with Jorginho’s challenge and adamant that he should have been sent off.

‘Jorginho was fortunate to be on the pitch by the way, he should have got a red card,’ Shearer said. 

Jorginho with the Euro trophy. Alan Shearer said his tackle was 'careless' and 'dangerous'

Jorginho with the Euro trophy. Alan Shearer said his tackle was ‘careless’ and ‘dangerous’

‘It’s careless, dangerous, endangering the safety of an opponent and it should be a red card. 

Lee Dixon, co-commentating on ITV, said immediately after the incident: ‘As soon as you go to ground, you run the risk of getting one like that whether he (Jorginho) gets anything on the ball or not, endangering an opponent, getting a red. 

‘It’s not a red for me. Referee’s just got about that right.’

England eventually lost the final 3-2 on penalties, though Jorginho saw his penalty saved by goal-keeper Jordan Pickford.