Ex-Premier League referee: FA should punish ‘diver’ Lacazette as controversial Arsenal footage emerges
Alexander Lacazette should be retrospectively punished for the theatrical reaction to Vladimir Coufal’s challenge in West Ham’s 2-0 loss to Arsenal on Wednesday (15 December), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed the challenge warranted a penalty but Lacazette’s reaction meant Anthony Taylor unfairly sent off Coufal.
Lacazette rolled almost 10 yards after the challenge and can even be shown clutching his head on the highlights posted to Arsenal’s YouTube channel.
The captain for the night recovered to take the penalty but his effort was saved by Lukas Fabianski.
Arsenal eventually doubled their lead through Emile Smith Rowe to leapfrog the Hammers into the Premier League top four.
“You reap what you sow,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“Players that are going to ground in this manner are tarnishing the image of the game.
“Life is tough for a referee so he is going to take the easy option which is what Anthony Taylor did. It’s a pity because I don’t think the West Ham player deserved to be dismissed and he got it wrong.
“It’s a difficult dilemma for referees because there is contact and it is a penalty.
“This is about managers, coaches, the Premier League trying to take action on what I consider to be the divers.
“The only recommendation I can make is to the FA ‘Get your act together’ and start to bring in retrospective punishment.
“That will allow the referees a little more freedom in their decision-making process.”
In other news, Arsenal have identified a ‘perfect signing’ to partner Thomas Partey after a Sky update.