Ex-Premier League referee: Scott McTominay should be banned as controversial Man United footage analysed
Scott McTominay should have been sent off as Man United beat Leeds United 4-2 yesterday (20 February), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee insisted McTominay was a “lucky boy” not to be shown a second yellow card at Elland Road.
The Man United midfielder was initially cautioned for a foul on Joe Gelhardt in the 77th minute.
Shortly after, as shown on the BBC’s Match of the Day 2 programme, he fouled Junior Firpo after he had passed the ball away.
The Leeds players were incensed McTominay was not shown a second yellow and Raphinha himself was cautioned after confronting his opponent.
Asked for his verdict of the incident, Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “How McTominay stayed on the pitch is beyond me.
“If his manager wants open and clean football then he needs to have a conversation with him.
“He is one lucky boy to have stayed on the pitch. On this one he should have received a red card.
“The second challenge fulfils a second yellow. It doesn’t have to be a second red.
“To some degree, I can understand what Paul Tierney is doing. That’s why I think he had a good game but I will criticise him on certain points.
“McTominay was a serial offender in the game. This wasn’t just two offences.
“I was surprised he stayed on.”
A second yellow card would have seen McTominay slapped with a one-game domestic ban.
He would have therefore been unavailable for Man United’s Premier League game with Watford next weekend (26 February).
In other news, Ralf Rangnick could be sacked by Man United soon after a ‘massively concerning’ report.