# I’ll tell my players to dive in future – Iraola

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/ill-tell-my-players-to-dive-in-future-iraola/
- Published: 2026-11-01T21:00:26+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-01T21:18:44+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Sport (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cvp8grpjk4leo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Business, Markets, Sport

## Key points

- Iraola says he will tell players to go down after shirt pulls.
- Isak stayed up after Timber pulled his shirt in the area.
- VAR judged the contact too slight to award a penalty.

## Summary

Andoni Iraola said he would tell his players to go down when pulled in the penalty area, after Alexander Isak was not awarded a penalty in Liverpool’s defeat by Arsenal. Iraola argued that Jurrien Timber’s shirt pull stopped Isak reaching a cross and that the incident showed players may not be rewarded if they stay on their feet.

Liverpool were trailing 1-0 after Kai Havertz scored when the incident happened. Referee Andy Madley allowed play to continue, and VAR official Stuart Attwell judged the contact insufficient to overturn that decision; the explanation was that the tug was slight rather than sustained. Former assistant referee Darren Cann said the call was close, while Liverpool also had a penalty appeal for Cody Gakpo waved away. The defeat left Liverpool without a shot on target.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.