Ex-Premier League official demands extended ban as controversial Max Aarons footage emerges from Norwich City
Tom Naylor should have been sent off and Norwich City should have been awarded a penalty for his challenge on Max Aarons as Wigan Athletic drew 1-1 at Carrow Road on Saturday (6 August).
That is the view of ex-Fifa and Premier League referee Keith Hackett, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the controversial incident.
Naylor launched into a challenge with Aarons in the closing stages but referee Matt Matt Donohue, who was just on the edge of the penalty area, did not point to the spot.
But Hackett has claimed it was a penalty kick at the very minimum and the 31-year-old deserved to be sent off.
A red card would have seen him banned for Wigan’s next three games, including their 1-0 loss to Fleetwood Town in the first round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday (9 August).
“I think this is a red card,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“At the very minimum, that’s a penalty kick.
“You can’t use the ball that’s an excuse. That player’s foot is over the ankle, which, for me, is an over-the-top challenge – a red card and a penalty kick.
“Wigan know, the body language shows that.
“The referee is in a good position and it’s poor judgment.
“There might have been a player hiding his view.”
As quoted by Wigan Today after the game, Dean Smith insisted the decision not to award his side a spot-kick was “scandalous”.
He insisted it was a “stonewall” penalty and the challenge was “nasty”.
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