Ex-Fifa official swipes at 'out of order' Ciaran Clark as controversial Newcastle United footage emerges
Ciaran Clark was "out of order" and was correctly sent off as Newcastle United beat Al-Ittihad 2-1 in a mid-season friendly on Friday (28 January), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee dismissed claims Clark should have been spared because the game was a friendly.
The defender was shown a red card for punching Al-Ittihad striker Abderrazak Hamdallah who was also sent off for his reaction.
As quoted by the Sheilds Gazette, Eddie Howe insisted there was "no need" for the red card because it was a training match.
"It shouldn't be a general view that because it's a friendly game referees shouldn't issue red cards," Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
"Let me tell you, in England when a friendly game is played and there's a red card offence that the referee doesn't issue red card he will be suspended.
"Referees are instructed very clearly that there are effectively no friendly games. All incidents have to be refereed and the laws of the game applied. This is what the guy out in Saudi Arabia has done.
"The player is out of order and then the guy who has responded and reacted has also got a red card.
"For me, this is correct action and I think it is a nonsense by the player. I've stopped trying to second guess players."
Football Insider reported yesterday (31 January) Clark turned down a deadline-day loan move to Middlesbrough.
He may not make Newcastle's 25-man Premier League squad due to the flurry of new arrivals at St. James' Park.