Ex-refs chief drops 'red card' verdict as Riccardo Calafiori footage re-analysed vs Brighton

Riccardo Calafiori should have been cautioned against Brighton, but calls for the Arsenal star to be sent off are over the top.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that the full-back was not out of control in his challenge on Charalampos Kostoulas.

Fabian Hurzeler's side stunned the Gunners on Saturday, 19 September, claiming a 3-0 win over the reigning Premier League champions at the Amex Stadium.

Pascal Gross, Kostoulas and Chema Andres were all on target for the Seagulls, and it could have gotten even better had Darren England seen Calafiori's actions as red-card worthy.

Fans have since shared footage of the 24-year-old flying into a challenge on Brighton's No.19, but finished the game without a caution or even a foul committed [FotMob].

It didn't have any impact on the final result, luckily for the home side, but it was certainly a decision that the referee missed, and VAR couldn't intervene with.

Riccardo Calafiori 'nailed-on' for a caution

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett explained why Calafiori didn't see red, but did admit that he expected the defender to be cautioned.

"I'm quite clear that the challenge is reckless and should have resulted in a yellow card," he said.

"I think that the reason I don't put it into the red card [category] is because he's got one foot on the ground, and he's not out of control.

"He can change his position, but his action is reckless and, therefore, for me, it's a nailed-on yellow card. I've seen a number of yellow cards this weekend that were not given.

"But when you look at them, VAR cannot intervene. So I think with that one, it's pretty obvious the referee's not got a good view of that."

Arsenal duo accused of poor behaviour vs Brighton

Calafiori was not the only player who should have potentially been punished by England, but the Gunners escaped pretty lightly from the defeat.

Hackett has accused Gabriel Magalhaes of essentially using dark arts, something that has been picked up by fans all across the Premier League.

Feeling the slightest touch in his back from Yasin Ayari, the Brazilian threw himself to the floor, and while he didn't win a foul, he wasn't punished either.

Declan Rice can also count himself lucky to have only received a yellow card in added time after kicking out at Malick Junior Yalcouye.