Credit: Imago, Sky Sports

Oliver Walton

Wed 8 April 2026 17:55, UK

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Keith Hackett has insisted that Championship strugglers Portsmouth are at risk of having Connor Ogilvie suspended for even longer after appealing the red card he was shown against Oxford United.

Ogilvie saw red for a rash challenge on Oxford’s Stanley Mills in the 17th minute as Portsmouth played out a 2-2 draw with their relegation rivals at Fratton Park on Monday.

He caught the U’s attacker high on his leg as he entered the final third on the right flank, but referee Josh Smith’s decision to brandish the red did cause some controversy.

Pompey manager John Mousinho was left dumbfounded at the decision and hinted at the club appealing the decision in his post-match interview.

He revealed on Wednesday that the club have submitted an appeal to the EFL, but former PGMOL chief Hackett does not think that they will get the outcome they are looking for.

Keith Hackett says Portsmouth are risking longer suspension for Ogilvie

Ogilvie has been Portsmouth’s starting left-back for the majority of the season, and they are facing a conundrum if he is suspended, with second choice Zak Swanson currently out injured.

Hackett told Football Insider on Monday that he felt Smith rightly sent Ogilvie off for his rash challenge, but Pompey have still decided to appeal the decision.

The ex-FIFA referee has now exclusively told Football Insider that they may regret doing so due to the potential for the length of his ban to be increased.

He said: “They are at risk here of the disciplinary panel increasing the suspension on the grounds of a frivolous appeal.

“The referee, in my opinion, has made the correct call. The challenge meets the criteria for serious foul play.

“They are taking a punt, I feel, in the hope that the panel will support their view and ignore law. I don’t see how they can say he played the ball.”

Portsmouth’s chances of survival, according to Opta

Portsmouth will hope for good news regarding Ogilvie, especially given that he is currently set to be suspended for their next three games due to the nature of his sending off.

The race to avoid relegation is set to go down to the wire, but Opta are backing Mousinho’s side to stay up this season.

Portsmouth are currently being given a 52.74 per cent chance of avoiding the bottom three, with Blackburn and West Brom also set to survive.

Leicester are being predicted to drop into League One, with a 58.52 per cent chance of doing so, alongside Oxford and Sheffield Wednesday.