Ex-Premier League referee: Aleksandar Mitrovic should get extended ban as controversial Fulham image emerges
Aleksandar Mitrovic should have been sent off as Fulham drew 0-0 with Everton on Saturday (29 October), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee urged the PGMOL to instruct referees to send off players for challenges like Mitrovic’s on Idrissa Gana Gueye at Craven Cottage.
The 28-year-old was shown a yellow card despite appearing to stamp on Gana Gueye in full view of referee John Brooks.
Frank Lampard told the BBC’s Match of the Day programme after the game that the challenge “ticked all the boxes” for a red card.
If he was dismissed Mitrovic would have been banned for the next three Fulham games.
“For me, this had excessive force,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider‘s Connor Whitley.
“When the player came in, his foot was high. Do we take in where he lands? No, because part of that was the player trying to get out the way.
“I can understand the referee determining it was reckless but I would have liked VAR to come in and determine that the referee should have another look.
“I think the PGMOL have got to discuss with managers in the mid-season break about this type of challenge.
“We are seeing too many challenges that land on the upper foot area.
“They say there’s no excessive power but he’s got the weight of his body on the opponent’s foot, coming down.
“The PGMOL have got to determine that this type of challenge is a red card and they have to stop trying to defend it by saying it’s reckless. It’s more than reckless this type of challenge.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire has claimed Everton have “something to hide” ahead of an imminent announcement.