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Sunderland boss Régis Le Bris has claimed that referee Chris Kavanagh privately admitted he made the wrong call after controversially refusing to award the Black Cats a penalty during their defeat to Liverpool on Wednesday night.
The major flashpoint came when Brian Brobbey went down in the penalty area following a strong challenge involving Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté, as Sunderland attempted to deliver a cross from the right-hand side.
Although VAR conducted a quick review, Kavanagh chose not to overturn his original decision, and the incident was followed shortly by the half-time whistle.
However, Le Bris has now revealed that the official conceded at the interval that Sunderland should have been given a spot-kick, insisting it was a clear penalty.
Le Bris: “The referee recognised his mistake”
Speaking after the game while discussing Brobbey’s physical style and how defenders often struggle to deal with him, Le Bris admitted he was frustrated that the striker is not being rewarded fairly by referees.
According to the Sunderland coach, the Liverpool match provided the perfect example.
Le Bris stated that the referee acknowledged the error at half-time, saying Brobbey should have been awarded a penalty.
He explained that Brobbey’s approach is naturally aggressive and powerful, but that kind of style needs to be protected more by match officials.
Le Bris believes Brobbey is still adjusting to English football, and that with time, referees will begin to interpret his battles differently — and Sunderland may start receiving more decisions in their favour.
Brobbey’s Sunderland rise continues
Brobbey has grown into an increasingly important figure for Sunderland following a slow start after arriving from Ajax on deadline day last summer.
After needing time to adapt, the striker is now delivering strong performances and drawing attention even from elite-level opponents.
Despite Sunderland’s defeat, Brobbey’s display was impressive enough to earn praise from Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, who believes the 24-year-old is becoming a serious threat and can still improve further.
Le Bris urges Brobbey to keep pushing forward
Le Bris agreed with Van Dijk’s assessment and said he spoke with Brobbey on Friday morning, encouraging him to stay focused and continue developing.
The Sunderland manager admitted that facing Liverpool’s defensive pairing of Van Dijk and Konaté was one of the toughest challenges Brobbey could face, describing both centre-backs as “absolutely fantastic.”
He highlighted that Brobbey still managed to get three or four opportunities, but Liverpool’s defenders were simply outstanding on the night.
Le Bris believes the striker’s improvement will continue naturally as he builds stronger relationships and understanding with his Sunderland teammates.
Van Dijk: “If you use him well, he’s a handful”
Van Dijk also delivered glowing comments on Brobbey, calling him a major problem for defenders due to his strength, fitness, and physical presence.
The Liverpool skipper said Brobbey is now far fitter than he had been in previous years and suggested there is still more potential to unlock in his game.
Van Dijk noted that most of the difficult battles during the match were handled by Konaté, as Brobbey was largely matched up against him throughout.
He ended by saying he hopes Brobbey can maintain his strong form for the rest of the season — and potentially carry that momentum into the World Cup with the Netherlands.
A decision Sunderland won’t forget
While Sunderland may have lost the match, the penalty controversy will leave a bitter taste — especially after Le Bris’ revelation that the referee admitted his error.
And with Brobbey now earning respect from Liverpool’s biggest stars, Sunderland fans will feel encouraged that their striker is rapidly becoming one of the most feared forwards in the league.
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