Ex-Fifa referee: Westwood should get extended ban as Arsenal controversy missed by BBC cameras
Ashley Westwood should have been sent off as Burnley held Arsenal to a 0-0 draw yesterday (23 January), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed Westwood stamped on Kieran Tierney and should have been given his marching orders.
The incident was missed on the BBC’s Match of the Day 2 highlights programme but was shared by Twitter user @DaveOgunbameru.
Westwood was shown a yellow card for the incident but avoided a sending off and was able to help his side to a vital point at the Emirates.
A red card would have seen the 31-year-old miss Burnley’s crucial next three games as they look to secure their Premier League status.
Sean Dyche would have been without the versatile midfielder for the Clarets’ upcoming home game with fellow struggerls Watford as well as the visits of Man United and Liverpool.
“Oh, that looks like a stamp to me,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“Yes, it should have been a red card. I wonder why that wasn’t highlighted?
“That’s obviously a red for the Burnley player, it’s a stamping offence.”
Westwood has started 16 of Burnley’s 18 Premier League games they have played this season.
A point at the Emirates kept Dyche’s side at the bottom of the table but they are now just four points from safety.
The Lancashire club have four games in hand over 17th-place Norwich City and also have more games to play than Newcastle United and Watford who complete the bottom three.
In other news, Arsenal could pocket a “hefty” £26m after the latest update Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s future.