Ex-Premier League referee: Kai Havertz should get retrospective punishment as controversial Chelsea footage analysed
The decision to caution Kai Havertz for simulation as Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 2-0 in the FA Cup semi-final yesterday (17 April) was the best of the weekend, according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee suggested Havertz deserves retrospective punishment to protect the image of the game.
As shown on the BBC‘s highlights show, the 22-year-old went to ground when he had taken the ball past Marc Guehi.
The Palace defender made no contact with his opponent who was duly booked by Anthony Taylor.
“What we saw with Taylor was that with the big decisions that he had to make, he was that close to it,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“When he rightly cautioned Havertz for simulation, for me, that was the decision of the weekend.
“He was in a great position with the right viewing angle, used his acceleration to get there and was positive with his call. He got everything right on that.
“He was like that throughout the game. It seemed to me that in both semi-finals, with Oliver and Taylor, they’ve earnt a reputation and that comes with respect.
“I think Oliver is our number one but it’s close and at long last we’ve got two really good referees at the top level capable of refereeing any game in England.
“Havertz gets a yellow card but the game has got to continually look at how we can improve the image of the game.
“We’re getting too many divers and rollers, those who roll around like they’ve been shot. It’s not good for the image of the game.”
In other news, a medical expert is ‘concerned’ as new Callum Hudson-Odoi details emerge at Chelsea.