Ex-Premier League referee swipes at ‘inconsistent’ FA after new twist on Harvey Elliott controversy at Liverpool
Harvey Elliott may have escaped an FA charge after the EFL Cup final because he did not throw a flare into the Liverpool fans – unlike Everton’s Richarlison who was charged for a similar incident during their 1-0 win over Chelsea last month (1 May).
That is the view of ex-Fifa and Premier League referee Keith Hackett, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the “inconsistent” ways the FA decide whether retrospective action is necessary.
They confirmed last week (1 June) that Richarlison, 25, had been charged for throwing a flare back into the Goodison Park stands after he scored his side’s goal in their win over Chelsea.
It drew criticism from Everton supporters who pointed out that Elliott avoided any punishment for his actions after the penalty shootout victory over the same opponents in the 2022 EFL Cup final (27 February).
The FA wrote to the 19-year-old asking for his observations but nothing further came from it and the matter was forgotten.
“I think it’s right to bring it up,” Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“What Everton fans have got to understand is that there will be three different people sitting on this judgement than there was sat on that one. That’s where you get the inconsistency.
“It’s different. On this occasion, he threw it into the crowd.”
Elliott only played three more games for Liverpool in the 2021-22 season after the EFL Cup final.
He ended the campaign which was interrupted by a serious injury with 11 appearances across all competitions.
In other news, Kieran Maguire has revealed Liverpool are to dodge Uefa ‘snipers’ as a £1billion deal is announced.