‘Darren England scared of Michael Oliver in fearful PGMOL’ – Arsenal fall-out
Keith Hackett believes the PGMOL must “end the fear culture” in the organisation and stopping running it like a “holiday camp” as the Myles Lewis-Skelly fall-out intensifies.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former PGMOL chief, ex-FIFA, and Premier League referee believes that the red-card decision in Arsenal’s 1-0 Saturday win over Wolves was an “inexplicable howler”.
The 18-year-old was dismissed just before half-time after he tripped Matt Doherty in front of Michael Oliver in a bid to stop the counter attack.
The PGMOL must take accountability for the Arsenal error
Hackett told Football Insider, “I do not care if Michael Oliver is our alleged number one referee. The red card we all know was a howler of an error.
“Is there some fear in the VAR that operated with Oliver thinking that they do not want to intervene because it is our number one?
“Well Oliver, in reviewing this decision, needs to think through his process: SEE, RECOGNISE, THINK, and then ACT.
“He was right on top of the incident unable to judge excessive force.
“He acted too quickly rather than taking a few seconds to visualise the action again replaying it through in his mind and then acting.
“The working relationship between VAR Darren England failed big time. With screens in front of him, he should be expected to review through various replays if Oliver had made a clear and obvious error.
“I just do not get how the VAR and AVAR Adrian Holmes can get this so wrong.
“Oliver had every right to expect them to intervene. However, is it fear that it is Oliver or peer pressure from our number one?
“Howard Webb [and the] PGMOL must act and ensure some accountability for this error.
“Yes in my era in charge of the PGMOL, they would be benched and this would hit them in their pocket, they would also receive some appropriate operational advice.
“Sad to say the PGMOL is full of ‘yes’ men running it like a holiday camp.
“The Premier League, Football League and The Football Association spend £33million and the stakeholders in the game deserve better.
“Management – is not working. Coaching – is not working. Assessment Process – is not working. Development – is not working. VAR – is not working. Semi-automated system – is not working (Not arrived yet).
“We do have some excellent referees in the system, they require leadership and direction.
“That is Howard Webb’s role. and he needs to step up and start to manage effectively, the buck stops with him.”
In other news, Lewis-Skelly shock: Sky Sports studio erupts at Michael Oliver over Arsenal.
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