Hackett: This is why Benteke should have been sent off against Arsenal
Christian Benteke should have been given a straight red card during Arsenal versus Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening.
That is according to ex-Premier League and FIFA referee Keith Hackett, speaking exclusively to Football Insider after Arsenal triumphed 3-1 at Selhurst Park.
With the clock showing 37 minutes, Benteke clumped into Bukayo Saka while challenging for an aerial ball.
In the ensuing melee, the 30-year-old striker thrust his forearm into Mohamed Elneny’s face.
VAR decided that it did not constitute violent conduct and thus Benteke escape with only a yellow card from referee Anthony Taylor for his original body check on Saka.
Hackett claimed that this sort of incident is “exactly what VAR” is for, claiming that the second offence was well worthy of a red card.
“Benteke should have gone,” he told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“He’s got a yellow for that challenge and then he’s put his left arm into the face of his opponent with a sweeping movement.
“There might not be venom in his actions but there was a body check and a left-arm jab. He knows exactly what he’s done. That on its own is a red card, seriously.
“He should have gone for that alone. The first one is important but the second one is the bad one.
“What’s the point in VAR if not for this? They should have said: ‘Anthony [Taylor], come and have a look at this.’
“They are going to the monitor less and less. What’s happened is they have been reminded that they only go to the monitor for clear and obvious errors and mistaken identity.
“But this kind of incident is exactly what VAR’s for.”
In other news, big-name candidate pulls out of running for Crystal Palace job.