Caoimhin Kelleher: Referee ‘let down by VAR’ as controversial Liverpool footage analysed – Ex-Fifa official
Referee Andy Madley should have been told by VAR operator Darren England to review Caoimhin Kelleher’s challenge on Mark Harris as Liverpool beat Cardiff City 3-1 yesterday (6 February).
That is the view of ex-Fifa and Premier League referee Keith Hackett, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the incident in the second half at Anfield.
Kelleher was well out of his penalty area and brought down Harris after he had taken the ball around him.
He was shown a yellow card and after it was checked by England at Stockley Park the game was allowed to continue.
“First of all let’s kill the question of denial of a goalscoring opportunity,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“It didn’t fulfil that because there was a covering defender as you can see on the goalkeeper’s left.
“I was surprised VAR didn’t ask to take a look at this. I would have liked the referee to have another look at that.
“He’s not got that zoomed in view that VAR has. That is a challenge that is a little bit more than reckless.
“From a refereeing point of view, the referee can only make that judgement. He may feel he’s been let down by the VAR operator.
“He should have been told ‘Have a look at this’. Just to satisfy the debate.
“We’ve got to get into a habit of referees looking at it and saying ‘Actually, I’m satisfied. I’ve had a look at it and it’s still a yellow card’. That’s all we want in the game. We haven’t seen that happen.”
In other news, Liverpool are holding talks over a February deal after personal terms are agreed.