Ex-Fifa official lambasts Lucas Digne as controversial Aston Villa footage analysed
Lucas Digne should have been sent off as Aston Villa beat Brisbane Roar 1-0 in a pre-season friendly in Australia on Wednesday (20 July), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee insisted Digne was “very lucky” to get away with his challenge on Tom Aldred.
The 29-year-old left Aldred’s ankle bloodied when he stamped on it in the opening exchanges of the game.
Digne was shown a yellow card but Hackett has insisted that he should have been given his marching orders.
He said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “It’s this dilemma for the referee.
“He’s refereeing what he considers to be a friendly but I’d remind the referee that there are no friendly games.
“Generally, when we’ve seen these types of challenges it seems to me that players have forgotten they have got a duty of care to their opponent. The player has failed to show this.
“I would’ve thought that this was a challenge that had excessive force and endangered the safety of his opponent.
“The boot came into contact with the lower leg, it’s a red card.
“Players have got to learn that they cannot follow through in this way. Either for retribution or when generally attempting to get the ball.
“They have to take care or they will find themselves getting a red. The player here was very lucky to get away with it.”
Digne moved to Aston Villa in January from Everton.
The France international has provided four assists in 16 competitive games for his new club but is yet to find the net.
In other news, Aston Villa are racing to sign a PSV star and £20million will seal the deal.