‘Blatant cheating’ – Ex-PGMOL chief ‘gobsmacked’ by Harry Maguire footage vs Crystal Palace
Harry Maguire should be ashamed of himself after footage of him “cheating” emerged from Man United’s clash with Crystal Palace.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that the Man United star’s actions are a prime example of why referees’ lives are made difficult.
Chris Kavanagh had plenty of contentious decisions to deal with, not least sending off Maxence Lacroix for the Denial of a Goalscoring Opportunity at Old Trafford on Sunday, 1 March.
The Palace defender had previously opened the scoring, sending the away end berserk, but following his red card, Bruno Fernandes and Benjamin Sesko managed to turn the game around.
Harry Maguire and Jorgen Strand Larsen go viral at Old Trafford
With United trying to get back into the game at the time of Maguire’s clash with Jorgen Strand Larsen, it was obvious what the former captain was trying to do in the centre of the park.
While battling for possession, Maguire won the header but complained to the referee about Strand Larsen’s high foot; only replays showed zero contact between the two players.
Supporters up and down the Premier League were baffled by the moment, with many finding it hilarious, but Hackett was more than frustrated by the footage at Old Trafford.
The 32-year-old has now been accused of “cheating,” with the footage clearly showing what Premier League referees are forced to deal with regularly when it comes to simulation.
Keith Hackett ‘gobsmacked’ by Man United-Crystal Palace footage
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “I’m gobsmacked by the player’s reaction. Harry Maguire is a tough cookie. He’s supposed to be one of the hardmen in the game.
“It’s a form of cheating. It’s him trying to get his opponent into trouble and win a free-kick. This is a dilemma that a referee faces.
“From a different position, a referee wouldn’t be able to see if there’s contact. I think blatant cheating like that has to be sanctioned with a yellow card.
“Acts of simulation are damaging the image of the game and damaging the image of this player because Harry Maguire now looks like a fool. It’s sad, and it makes life difficult for referees”