Ex-PL referee on extended ban for ‘reckless’ Erling Haaland as Man City footage re-analysed
Keith Hackett has claimed referee Andy Madley was correct to award Man City phenom Erling Haaland a yellow card for his “reckless” challenge on Vitalii Mykolenko.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee suggested the 22-year-old avoided dismissal because he didn’t “endanger the safety” of the left-back.
As seen on BBC’s Match of the Day (07:16, 31 December), Haaland brought Mykolenko down with a two-footed challenge which earned him a yellow card.
The striker, who appeared to be fired up by earlier events in the match, was some distance off the floor before making contact with the left-back.
Haaland had opened the scoring after 24 minutes but Man City were pegged back by Demarai Gray in the second half and the game finished 1-1.
City now trail league leaders Arsenal by seven points.
Hackett told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “I’ve changed my mind on this – I initially thought it was a red card.
“My view is that the referee made the right judgement because Haaland’s foot is low enough, and he stops slightly short of the defender.
“He was reckless, but I don’t think he was endangering the safety of Mykolenko.
“He jumped into the challenge, and I think that made it look worse than it actually was.”
Haaland’s goal was his 21st league strike of the season and put him eight goals clear of Harry Kane in the race for the Golden Boot.
The Norway international has never been dismissed in his 204-game club career.
In other news, pundit blown away by “perfect” Man City starlet after what he saw in person.