Ex-PGMOL chief concerned by PGMOL red flags after Hwang Hee-Chan controversy vs Arsenal
Premier League footballers have raised red flags after Hwang Hee-Chan avoided a red card in Wolves’ defeat to Arsenal on Saturday.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that Hwang should have been sent off at Molineux Stadium on Saturday, 13 December.
Rob Edwards’ side looked destined for a point against the Gunners, having equalised in the 90th minute through Tolo Akorodare, only to be squashed by a Yerson Mosquera own goal four minutes later.
It could have been a much simpler task for Mikel Arteta‘s side after Wolves’ No.11 going studs-up into a challenge on Myles Lewis-Skelly, initially given a yellow card for the foul.
Hwang Hee-Chan fortunate to avoid red card vs Arsenal
Despite a VAR check, the officials stuck with referee Rob Jones‘ decision, which Hackett completely disagreed with, also believing that a worrying trend is emerging in the Premier League.
Earlier on Saturday, Brighton’s Diego Gomez should have seen red against Liverpool, with several incidents cropping up each matchweek, many of which are missed.
So far in 2025-26, 18 red cards have been dished out, with Enzo Maresca‘s Chelsea leading the way with four, and last season, 52 were awarded in the Premier League.
Commenting on these figures, Hackett revealed that he only sent 10 players off in his refereeing career, feeling that he has seen far too many controversial incidents now.
Keith Hackett raises concerns over Premier League red cards
Hackett, exclusively speaking to Football Insider on The Final Whistle, “It’s a challenge that has a great deal of excessive force. He’s come in really heavily. The argument will be that he hasn’t come in very high.
“For me, I was looking for a red card. I just want to make this statement: in 23 years of refereeing, I only sent 10 players off. I only issued 10 red cards.
“Here, I’m saying there have been a couple of reds this weekend. Under the law, it should have been. We’ll see the defence coming through, saying it was low down, and that it doesn’t matter.“
The most recent Premier League red card came during Newcastle United‘s win over Burnley on Saturday, 6 December, after Lucas Pires was sent off for his last-ditch challenge on Anthony Elanga.