Ex-PGMOL chief: Bournemouth star avoids ban for cheating as footage re-analysed vs Arsenal
Andoni Iraola was fortunate not to see his Bournemouth side go down to 10 men against Arsenal at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that Chris Kavanagh should have shown a red to Amine Adli for simulation on 3 January.
Gabriel Magalhaes was lucky not to be cautioned himself, and it was the Brazilian whom the 25-year-old threw himself into in an attempt to win a late penalty, with the Cherries losing 3-2.
After a second-half brace from Declan Rice, Junior Kroupi‘s long-range strike was nothing more than a consolation, but that could have been very different had Kavanagh pointed to the spot.
Hackett, however, feels that, if anything, it was a foul the other way, and that should have meant a second yellow after he picked up a caution for a lunging foul on Mikel Merino.
Amine Adli accused of simulation vs Arsenal
Mikel Arteta was furious with his Arsenal players in the first half, but the Gunners boss would have been even more furious when Adli attempted to buy a penalty off Gabriel in the dying seconds.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “The attempt to deceive the referee was an action that fully justified a second yellow card followed by the red.
“If referees continue not to apply yellow cards for acts of simulation, it will encourage more players to repeat the offence. I would like to see the introduction of a post-match review panel to look at these incidents.“
Hackett has been critical of Kavanagh during the 2025-26 campaign, and this was another missed moment by one of Howard Webb‘s most experienced officials at the Vitality Stadium.
Rob Green absolutely stunned by the incident involving Bournemouth star
Watching the moment unfold, Rob Green was stunned by the “ridiculous” incident involving Adli, which even allowed the Gunners to run down the clock. Nobody could believe their eyes.
Arteta’s side have now pulled six points clear at the top of the table, with Man City yet to face Chelsea in their game in hand, but it seems like a huge moment for the team at the top of the league.
The North London side are striving for their first trophy since the 2019-20 campaign, last coming in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium, but there are likely many twists and turns to come.