‘I just find it remarkable’ – Ex-refs chief lambasts officials over Sunderland vs Arsenal controversy
Craig Pawson was completely at fault as Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori went unpunished for an obvious booking against Sunderland.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that the missed caution sends a bad message to those watching at the Stadium of Light.
Dan Ballard was the hero for Sunderland as the centre-back scored in the first half before putting in a goal-saving block in the dying seconds to secure a draw on Saturday, 8 November.
Despite the Black Cats’ opener, efforts from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard dragged the Gunners back into the lead, which was eventually undone by a brilliant acrobatic goal from Brian Brobbey.
Riccardo Calafiori drags Trai Hume down as Sunderland attack
Gabriel Magalhaes was furious that Brobbey’s goal was allowed to stand after the striker made contact with the defender’s face, but that was not the only controversial moment during the game.
The entirety of the home crowd was on their feet after Calafiori dragged down Trai Hume on the right flank, and with it being his fifth foul of the match, everyone expected a yellow card to be shown.
He would have been one of four players to go into the referee’s notebook, but no action was taken.
Instead, Pawson kept his cards in his pocket, much to the frustration of the home supporters, and Hackett is equally as surprised after watching the Italy international’s blatant foul.
Craig Pawson to blame as Calafiori avoids a yellow card
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “I just find it remarkable, the inconsistency that surrounds refereeing on the question of holding and pulling. We’ve seen in the penalty area, many referees completely ignore these situations as an offence.
“They’re wrong to do that. It’s poor for the game; it sends the wrong message around the world. Now we’re beginning to see those offences going unpunished.
“Where a player prevents an attack from moving forward, he should have received a yellow card. It’s an act of unsporting behaviour. He’s stopped a promising attack. It fulfilled a law. And a lethargic, inconsistent referee in Craig Pawson does absolutely nothing.
“I don’t think he’s even recognising that it’s a foul that should be punished with a yellow card. He tries to keep his cards in his pocket, and so he’s creating inconsistencies in his own game.”