Ex-Premier League referee: Kostas Tsimikas should get extended ban as controversial Liverpool footage emerges
Kostas Tsimikas should have been sent off as Liverpool lost 3-2 to Arsenal on Sunday (9 October), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed VAR should have intervened after Tsimikas appeared to elbow on Gabriel Jesus.
The two came together just before the hour mark and Arsenal were awarded a free-kick.
However, Michael Oliver did not even show the 26-year-old a yellow card and VAR did not feel the need to intervene.
A red card would have seen Tsimikas banned for Liverpool’s next three Premier League games, including home games with Man City and West Ham and a trip to Nottingham Forest.
“I think he [Tsimikas] knew exactly what he was doing,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“I think he’s swiped the player and in fairness, VAR should have come in on that one and said to Michael ‘Go and have a look at the monitor’.
“For me, that is a red card offence. He’s deliberately used his elbow and it’s hit the player.
“I’m clear that he’s bent his arm, he’s not used his arm to gain pace, he’s swiped back at the player.
“He’s used his arm illegally, that’s for sure. It’s sufficient for me to say that VAR should have come in.
“If Oliver had seen that, I don’t think he’s left with any option other than to dismiss the player.
“He didn’t even give a yellow card so that’s why I think he didn’t see it and VAR should have come in.”
In other news, Liverpool fear a star man will be “out for months” amid development on Monday.