Ex-Premier League referee: Douglas Luiz ‘lucky’ to escape extended ban as Aston Villa controversy analysed
Keith Hackett has contested the Football Association’s decision to revoke Douglas Luiz’s suspension for Aston Villa.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Fifa and Premier League official said the 24-year-old deserved to be sent off for his actions at Craven Cottage on Thursday night (20 October).
Luiz was shown a straight red following a confrontation with Fulham striker Aleksandr Mitrovic.
Referee Michael Oliver did not initially spot the altercation but on the advice of VAR official Paul Tierney he reviewed the incident on the pitch-side monitor.
Luiz was shown the first straight red card of his career moments later.
Aston Villa went on to lose 3-0 at Craven Cottage in a game which ultimately cost Steven Gerrard his job.
As confirmed by the FA (21 October), the midfielder’s suspension has since been uplifted following an appeal from the Midlands club.
When asked by Football Insider if Luiz was wrongfully sent off for the altercation with Mitrovic, Hackett said: “I think it is a red card.
“He is lucky to have got away with that.
“At the end of the day, if you put your head into the face of an opponent and there is contact there is only going to be one route and that is down the tunnel. It was the right decision for me.”
The FA’s decision to overturn the red means Luiz is eligible to feature against Brentford on Sunday (23 October).
The Brazilian midfielder has made 11 appearances for Villa this season.
In other news, a source has revealed Brentford are braced for an approach for Thomas Frank amid £3million release clause reveal.