Ex-Fifa official lambasts John McGinn as controversial Aston Villa-Leeds United footage analysed
John McGinn was fortunate to escape a red card for his challenge on Archie Gray as Aston Villa beat Leeds United 1-0 in pre-season on Sunday (17 July).
That is the view of ex-Fifa and Premier League referee Keith Hackett, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about McGinn’s controversial challenge on the 16-year-old.
Gray was a second-half substitute and received a yellow card for a challenge on Emiliano Buendia shortly after coming on.
McGinn seeked revenge moments later and his challenge led to the teenager being stretchered off with an ankle injury.
“I think McGinn knew exactly what he was doing, I think it was retribution,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider‘s Connor Whitley.
“He was very lucky to avoid a red card. It was borderline but there is a degree of excessive force, he knew exactly what he was doing and went for the man and not the ball.
“On that situation and the outcome, I would have given him a red. I think he’s a lucky guy.
“The reality of these situations is the referee has only got one view, I don’t think VAR is in operation. This is the difficulty.
“If he had that view and understood there was malice in the challenge and it was retribution for what happened earlier then when you take that into account, he’s lucky to escape a red.
“It’s important to emphasise, from a refereeing perspective, a friendly match was treated slightly differently in the past.
“In my time, with a nod and a wink when a player was getting out of control you could look at the bench and say ‘Bring him off’.
“Now, all these games are high profile. Referees don’t have any leeway.
“Even if a referee is officiating a semi-professional pre-season game and does something slightly different then they can find themselves suspended.
“I can understand why he’s given a yellow card but McGinn is fortunate not to receive a red.”
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