ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 12: FIA Race Director Michael Masi walks in the Paddock before the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 12, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Martin Tyler’s comments on Michael Masi during the Premier League match have sparked up a fresh debate on social media
Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler claimed that Liverpool fans ‘would have needed an F1 race director’ on the final day of the Premier League season had they drawn to Southampton at St. Mary’s – referring to FIA chief Michael Masi’s controversial decision in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year.
Liverpool won 2-1 after going down 0-1 early in the match. A loss would have given Manchester City the title prior to the last game of the season, whilst a draw would have put the Reds three points behind City but with a seven-worse goal difference.
Tyler understood the damage a draw would do to Liverpool’s title hopes. And in a jibe at former FIA director Masi, the Sky legend claimed they would need a ‘race director’, poking fun at the decision to allow Max Verstappen to win the 2021 World Drivers’ Championship.
“If Liverpool draw, next week you’d have to be a F1 race director to get them a title,” Tyler taunted on air. Verstappen went on to win his first title in extremely dubious circumstances in Abu Dhabi in December after being level on points with Lewis Hamilton before the race.
Fans and users had mixed reactions to Martin Tyler’s jibe. The comment has certainly sparked up a fresh debate on social media.
“Imagine trying to make out Football is free of controversy? Martin must have been asleep through the decades of corruption and dodgy refereeing decisions over the decades. Even with VAR they STILL get it wrong. TeamLH lapping this up like soup”, wrote a fan who feels the comment was unnecessary because no sport is free from controversy.
“Martin Tyler speaking facts on live commentary. This is how F1 will be viewed by people, now and going forward. The sport is corrupt and FIA can change results however they like”, tweeted a fan who clearly feels Hamilton was hard done by Masi last year.
A visibly upset F1 fan tweeted, “@F1 is the laughing stock of the sporting world…How does it feel @fia @Ben_Sulayem?”
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