The Daily Mirror has studied video footage of the incident during Saturday's Everton v Liverpool clash at Goodison Park, and claims Riley instinctively went to the pocket containing his yellow card after Cahill's clumsy challenge on Xabi Alonso.

But after the Australian refused to come and receive the card for several seconds, Riley was caught on camera apparently saying, "I think I will give him a red", and swapped hands to go to his other pocket for the red card.

Riley would have probably avoided censure if he had shown one yellow card for the tackle and another for Cahill's reaction. It would also have made an appeal from Everton impossible.