Ex-Premier League ref: Man United chiefs may be blocking big change Maguire is demanding
Keith Hackett would love to see referees explain their controversial decisions to the media but clubs like Manchester United are blocking it.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-PGMOL boss revaeled he tried to introduce more transparency 20 years ago but clubs did not like it as they felt it harmed their chances of overturning decisions on appeal.
Man United captain Harry Maguire recently told Gary Neville on his Overlap YouTube channel that he would like to see more clarity on decisions in the days after games.
He cited his side’s disallowed goal against Tottenham which was chalked off for Scott McTominay’s foul on Heung-min Son in the build-up.
Asked whether he agreed with Maguire’s sentiments, Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “Let me tell you what the danger is.
“When I was the boss of the PGMOL, 20 years ago, I was quite keen to get referees to talk to the media to explain their decisions. I thought that would be educational to the public and I wanted refereeing to be transparent.
“In some countries, they do that. In the MLS, what they do is brilliant. They will produce a video after the game which highlights these types of incidents that clarify why referees do what they do.
“What exaggerates the problem in England is the lack of communication from the PGMOL. It’s not transparent and they don’t want referees to make a comment. It’s the opposite. It’s total suppression.
“When Harry Maguire makes that comment I understand what he’s getting at. But one of the reasons we withdrew to some degree was that the clubs themselves didn’t like it.
“When you had a red card offence and a referee says ‘I dismissed this player because…’ The clubs believed that suppressed their chance to appeal. The referee was having a second bite of supporting his red card. That was the argument.
“There needs to be a greater clarification for some of the incidents.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire has ripped into “appalling” Manchester United as he slams “mice, rain and no Wi-Fi”.