According to Sky Sports commentator Peter Drury, who was privy to conversations between the referee and VAR, Attwell adjudged Dokuās challenge to have been in a āreasonableā position.
Ultimately, then, it was not deemed to be a high boot from the Man City winger, even though Mac Allister would likely have the stud marks to show otherwise.
Former referee Mike Dean, who now works for Sky Sports, flip-flopped on the decision as usual.
At first Dean claimed he āwouldnāt be surprised if Stuart sent [Michael Oliver] to the screenā to make his own judgment on the decision.
But with the check completed in a matter of seconds, he backtracked, saying: āHeās obviously played the ball first and followed through, Iām guessing normal coming together.
āHeās very, very fortunate there in my opinion, Doku.ā