Ex-PGMOL boss: Kyle Walker should be ‘charged and suspended’ after Man United incident: ‘What was VAR doing?’
Stuart Attwell should have easily given Kyle Walker his marching orders during Burnley’s draw with Man United on Wednesday.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that VAR should have advised the referee to check the Burnley star’s stamp on Patrick Dorgu.
Benjamin Sesko was at the double at Turf Moor on 7 January, though the Clarets remained in the game through an Ayden Heaven own goal and a Jaidon Anthony stunner.
Attwell has been criticised previously in the 2025-26 campaign, but Hackett is more concerned by a lack of VAR intervention after the former Man City star was allowed to get away with a moment of madness.
Kyle Walker should be investigated after Man United incident
Walker was already involved with Lisandro Martinez when the Red Devils had a goal ruled out in the 28th minute, and he was fortunate not to be sent off on this occasion.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “What was VAR doing on this? It was a clear stamp on his opponent. It’s a straight red card.
“It is an incident that the Football Association should review. If the match officials confirm that they did not see the incident, then the player should be charged and suspended.”
Dorgu has been in fine form for Man United since switching positions, and the full-back-turned winger did well not to react to Walker’s stamp, which went unpunished at the time.
Scott Parker must address Burnley’s discipline issues
Despite avoiding a caution against the Red Devils, Walker already has seven yellow cards to his name, albeit the Clarets are the sixth-lowest team for yellows in the Premier League.
However, looking at red cards, only Chelsea and Everton have more, with the Toffees recording two of theirs against Wolves on Wednesday, 7 January – Michael Keane and Jack Grealish.
There are certainly more pressing issues than the number of cards that Scott Parker‘s players are picking up in the Premier League, like the impending risk of relegation, but it is a concern.
All Walker’s incident does is highlight the flaws in the current technology, with several players escaping punishment when VAR should be intervening and correcting the referee.
Of course, a moment like this could be easily missed by a referee. But that’s exactly what VAR is for, right?