Ex-Premier League referee: Ronaldo should face extended ban as controversial Man United footage emerges
Cristiano Ronaldo should have been sent off as Man United were held to a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United, according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed Ronaldo should have been shown a red card for his challenge on Ryan Fraser.
Man United’s number seven cut a frustrated figure all evening and was shown a yellow for his challenge on Fraser.
But Hackett has suggested he could have been shown a straight red for the foul and was also lucky to escape a booking earlier on in the evening for dissent.
A red card would have seen Ronaldo miss United’s next three Premier League games against Burnley, Wolves and Aston Villa.
“When I first viewed the incident it certainly had sufficient force and potential to endanger the safety of Ronaldo’s opponent,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“On that assumption, my gut said a red card. I would without question have sent him off. You do not have to make contact with your opponent in order to endanger him.
“VAR decided obviously to not interfere allowing the referee to deal with the incident. VAR probably did not see a clear and obvious error in the issuing of a yellow.
“However there was frustration from Ronaldo all evening and he was showing dissent and little respect for referee Craig Pawson. Before that challenge, Ronaldo would have received a yellow for dissent from me.
“There was frustration and an element of malice in his actions. He deserved and should have seen red.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire has revealed ‘wages could explode’ at Man United after a Mino Raiola reveal.