By DAVID FACEY
Published: Today
JAVIER MASCHERANO became the dumbest man in the world after crazily provoking ref Steve Bennett to send him off for dissent.
Liverpool’s Argentine midfielder got his red card after 43 minutes — handing Manchester United a win which virtually assures them of the title.
Mascherano was booked after just 10 minutes for a foul on Paul Scholes before repeatedly telling Bennett to ‘F*** off’.
But he seemed oblivious to the rumpus caused by Ashley Cole’s midweek show of dissent at Spurs as he angrily confronted Bennett and his linesmen SIX more times.
The ref’s patience finally ran out when Mascherano charged 20 YARDS to confront him for booking Fernando Torres.
He showed the Liverpool player a second yellow card before brandishing the red card. But even then Mascherano could not keep his mouth shut.
He refused to leave the pitch even though Reds boss Rafa Benitez pleaded with him to calm down.
And he swore at Bennett again as team-mates Xabi Alonso and Fabio Aurelio tried to restrain him.
The FA are likely to increase his automatic one-game ban and fine him heavily.
Amazingly, Kop boss Rafa Benitez insisted: “The player told me he was asking what happened and to get sent off for that made him really, really surprised.”
United boss Alex Ferguson said: “He has been booked and he kept badgering the referee.
“You talk about dissent and I think that was dissent.”
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