Dear Editor,

The Champions League match-up between Liverpool and Real Madrid proved to be a no-show of the most talked about star for the past few months in Mohamed Salah.

Sergio Ramos fouled the lethal striker and got away with a mere slap of the wrist for his counterproductive play from the standpoint of the Liverpool fans. It also proved to be a defining moment for the Real Madrid aggregation who were more than glad to see the back of Salah.

This Champions League match could have been more competitive were it not for the early exit of the Liverpool marksman. Ramos manhandled the Liverpool front man to the disgust of the Liverpool fans and well-wishers.

Unprovoked play like that which was demonstrated by Ramos should be punished with a clear send-off message. This one play changed the entire complexion of play and saw Liverpool merely going through the motions with no possible answer to the constant attacks by Real Madrid.

We need measures in place to counter any chance of unfair advantage by any team, and this is where video cameras reference comes to the fore. This experimental gesture will envelope the game into a very effective mechanism to foster a type of ambience which will direct the game away from an atmosphere of disrepute?

Real Madrid played well, despite a handicapped Liverpool, but the game would be left to the gods if it weren’t for the ‘hands of god’ from Ramos. Who knows what would have transpired with a fit, healthy and hungry Salah? We only can live on the likely premise, it could have been the other way.

I am not discrediting Gareth Bale’s remarkable presence and his two scintillating finishes. This deliberate attempt to stop the player at all costs proved a major positive for the Madrid team. The only mistake in the game is that Ramos was not sent off for his less than gentlemanly conduct. I hope it is too early a call for the focused Salah to be absent from the upcoming World Cup.

Paris Taylor

Greater Portmore, St Catherine

paristaylor82@hotmail.com