Southampton news: Ex-Fifa official savages Kyle Walker-Peters claim – ‘abject nonsense’
Keith Hackett has branded Ralph Hasenhuttl’s claim that Southampton defender Kyle Walker-Peters will win more fouls now he is an England international as “abject nonsense”.
The former Fifa and Premier League referee was speaking exclusively to Football Insider in the wake of the Saints’ 1-1 draw against Leeds United on Saturday (2 April).
Speaking post-match and quoted by the Southern Daily Echo, Hasenhuttl claimed “the only way to stop” Walker-Peters, 25, is by fouling him – and suggested he will win more free-kicks now he has earned his first senior England caps.
The newly-minted Three Lions defender won the all-important free-kick which allowed specialist James Ward-Prowse to equalise early in the second half.
Hackett cited his own extensive experience dealing with international superstars.
He told Football Insider‘s Connor Whitley: “By that logic, when I refereed Maradona, I must have given him more free kicks.
“That’s abject nonsense from Ralph Hasenhuttl.
“It shows how far away he is from knowing what goes on inside the head of a referee.
“Referees couldn’t care less how many England caps you have.
“I remember in the very first minutes of my first top-flight game, I cautioned the England captain.”
Walker-Peters, who has two England caps following the most recent international break, is Southampton’s fourth-most fouled (1.4 per game) player this season (as per WhoScored).
The Saints sit 11th following the draw, while Leeds United pulled eight points clear of relegation danger.
In other news, Kieran Maguire reveals Southampton are paying ‘£180,000-a-week’ as ‘biggest risk in football’ explained.