Ex-Fifa official has major ‘worry’ as Tottenham referee news confirmed
Keith Hackett has admitted he has a major “worry” about Peter Bankes refereeing West Ham’s game with Tottenham on Wednesday (31 August).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee insisted Bankes will carry “baggage” into the game after his poor performance during Wolves’ 1-1 draw with Newcastle United on Sunday (28 August).
Bankes, who was officiating his second Premier League game of the season, made a number of errors at Molineux.
In the first half, Newcastle thought they should have had a penalty for a shirt pull on Sean Longstaff.
After the break, Wolves thought Fabian Schar should have been sent off for a stamp on Pedro Neto.
Bankes also needed VAR to rule out a Wolves goal for a foul in the build up by Neto on Ryan Fraser late on.
“The thing that worries me, because the week four and week five appointments were made on the same day, Peter Bankes who didn’t have a good game will now referee West Ham against Spurs,” Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“That’s a tough derby game.
“If the system operated correctly, they’d pick the referees that are in form.
“Look, generally, I think he’s a good referee but sometimes referees have a poor game and when they have a poor game, why reward them with such a high-profile game?
“He will have some baggage from the game at the weekend when he looks back.”
Tottenham go into the trip to West Ham third in the Premier League and unbeaten this season.
West Ham are out of the relegation zone after recording their first win of the campaign against Aston Villa on Sunday (28 August).
In other news, Chelsea are set to blow Tottenham out of the water as a defender bid is readied.