Ex-Premier League referee: Nuno Tavares should get extended ban after two Arsenal controversies
Nuno Tavares should have been sent off and Man United should have been awarded a penalty in their 3-1 loss to Arsenal on Saturday (23 April).
That is the view of ex-Fifa and Premier League referee Keith Hackett, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about Tavares’ challenge on Anthony Elanga in the first half.
Elanga was in behind the Arsenal defence and bearing down on Aaron Ramsdale’s goal before he was brought down by the 22-year-old.
As shown on the BBC’s Match of the Day programme, Craig Pawson waved away United’s appeals and allowed play to continue.
A red card would have seen Tavares banned for Arsenal’s next three Premier League games with West Ham, Leeds and Tottenham.
“It seems to me that referees have decided they want to see a definite pullback,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“This is the difference, in my day, when a player is putting his arm on the shoulder of his opponent he’s doing it for a particular reason – to put that player off. In my eyes, it’s a foul.
“Referees are now being coached and trained and the intimation is they want to see a real pullback. There wasn’t a real pull back but it was sufficient in my eyes for this to be a foul and a penalty kick to be awarded.
“In these situations, the consistent approach by the referees is that they have to be 100 per cent certain before they point to the penalty mark.
“It’s a subjective decision so I can understand why the referee doesn’t give a penalty kick.
“Had he given that a penalty kick the outfield player would have gone, for sure.
“The referee even looks at the assistant referee. Make a decision, Mr Pawson.
“Man United were unlucky not to get a penalty.”
In other news, there has been a major update on William Saliba’s future at Arsenal after a new twist.