Ex-Premier League referee slams ‘cheating’ Andy Robertson as incriminating Liverpool footage emerges
Keith Hackett has urged the Premier League to clamp down on “cheating” stars like Liverpool defender Andy Robertson as the feigning of head injuries continues in the top flight.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee insisted players claiming to have received blows to the head should be assessed off the pitch while the game continues.
As seen in footage posted to Twitter by Sky Sports (6 March), Robertson can be seen holding his head despite being fouled by a challenge which impacted his torso.
Over the weekend, similar incidents which involved Man United’s Bruno Fernandes and Nottingham Forest defender Renan Lodi have also been thrust into the spotlight.
Referees are obliged to stop play once a player is on the receiving end of a blow to the head.
As per the BBC (6 March), the Premier League has been left “disappointed” after football rule-makers IFAB ruled against introducing temporary concussion substitutes.
Hackett told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “It blows my mind, this.
“It’s damaging the image of the Premier League.
“This is cheating, there’s no other word for it.
“I think the answer here is to get the managers together. They’ve got to put their heads together to do something about this.
“The danger with the faking of head injuries is the lack of medical attention they’re getting at the moment. They’re not in any danger of being taken off.
“With head injuries we have to take great care, so doctors should be assessing these players while the game is going on.
“That is where the concussion substitutes come in.
“These players should be treated off the field of play if they’re claiming it’s a head injury.”
In other news, Football Insider updates as Liverpool plot “huge” free transfer.