Ex-Premier League referee: Holmes should get extended ban as ’embarrassing’ Blackburn-Huddersfield footage analysed
Duane Holmes should have been sent off in Huddersfield Town’s 0-0 draw with Blackburn Rovers yesterday (2 January), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed Holmes “endangered the safety” of Tyrhys Dolan with a foul in the Blackburn penalty area.
In footage shared by VitalHtafc on Twitter, as it was not included on the Sky Sports highlights, the former USA international launches into a challenge on Dolan with two feet off the ground.
A straight red card would have seen Holmes, 27, banned for Huddersfield’s next three Championship games against Swansea City, Reading and Stoke City.
As quoted by the Daily Mail after the game, Tony Mowbray claimed Keith Stroud’s performance was “embarrassing” as he also felt his side should have been awarded a penalty for a challenge on Ben Brereton Diaz.
“He’s right, Hackett said of Mowbray’s comments after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“That’s a red card. He jumped into it with two feet in a scissor action. He’s endangered the safety of an opponent.
“In fairness to Tony Mowbray, he’s been in the game a long time and he reads it. He’s not a manager who publicly criticises match officials, he’s reasonable. But on this, he’s spot on. That’s a red card.”
Despite being held to a draw at Ewood Park, Blackburn are now up to second in the Championship table.
They are a point above Fulham who sit in third but the London side do have two games in hand over Rovers.
In other news, Blackburn Rovers have opened talks to sign a Sheffield United 24-year-old.