Ex-Premier League referee: ‘Fifa have a real problem’ as controversial Mohamed Salah footage analysed – Liverpool news
Fifa have a “real problem” after the Liverpool superstar was targeted by lasers before he missed a penalty in Egypt’s shootout loss to Senegal in a World Cup play-off game last week (29 March).
That is the view of ex-Fifa and Premier League referee Keith Hackett, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the incident.
Salah, 29, had his view obstructed by lasers before he fired the opening penalty over the bar.
Senegal eventually won the shootout 3-1 with Sadio Mane booking his country’s place in the finals with the final spot-kick.
“I’ve really got concerns about the undue influence of spectators on the game of football currently,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider‘s Connor Whitley.
“The referee could see that Salah’s entire body was literally covered with these laser pens. At that point, I was disappointed that the referee didn’t intervene.
“He wants a fair result. I think this is off-putting and laser pens are dangerous.
“For me, this referee didn’t do his job. I think his first route was to consider taking the players off the field of play. It might be a warning through the ground controller.
“The security are there so they had to get a warning out there to say ‘This penalty kick’s not going to take place until those laser pens are stopped’.
“The ultimate thing is take the players off, empty the stadium, retake the kick some minutes afterwards without fans in the stadium.
“This is an outside influence that has impacted the game of football. Salah hardly misses a penalty kick, look at his record.
“I think it’s unfair and the authorities have to do something. Replay it or kick Senegal out of the competition.
“Is this going to set the scene now for the World Cup? Fifa have got a problem on their hands. I’ve not seen any action or discussion from them. They are just ignoring it and you can’t ignore it because it could be a trend we suddenly see in competitions around the world.”
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