Ex-refs chief rips into ‘serious foul play’ after ‘unacceptable’ Brighton vs Sunderland scenes
Sunderland can consider themselves lucky to have finished with 11 men on the pitch after Saturday’s drab 0-0 draw with Brighton.
After Sunderland’s 1-0 win over Newcastle United last week, Saturday’s point has seen the Black Cats rise to sixth in the Premier League.
But the final minutes could have played out differently, after referee Darren England gave just a yellow card for Dan Ballard‘s challenge on Charalampos Kostoulas.
Ballard has been in impressive form for Sunderland this season, but the defender may well have been facing a three-game ban had the video assistant referee got involved.
Sunderland are set to face several absences due to AFCON over the next month, and will be relieved not to have added Ballard to that list.
Keith Hackett slams officials over ‘unacceptable challenge’
There was ultimately very little between Sunderland and Brighton on Saturday, but the Seagulls will feel aggrieved about the decision not to send off Ballard.
Kostoulas had taken advantage of the defender’s heavy touch to get to the ball first, with the Sunderland man lifting his foot and raking his studs down the midfielder’s shin.
It was a heavy and dangerous challenge, but referee England was happy to keep his red card in his pocket.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett said: “Ballard should have seen red for this challenge.
“He went for the man and not the ball and there was malice in this unacceptable challenge.”
“This is serious foul play, and I do think the authorities have got to look at these, PGMOL, the FA, the Premier League, the PFA, and the LMA, and say: ‘right, ok, we want these types of challenges, as in law, issued with a red card,'” Hackett added.
Premier League release statement on Dan Ballard incident
The Premier League released a statement following Saturday’s incident, but the explanation did little to clarify the referee’s decision.
“The referee’s call of yellow card to Ballard for a reckless challenge was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the contact deemed to be glancing,” Premier League Match Centre wrote.
Just hours later, Xavi Simons would be sent off for a similar-looking challenge during Tottenham‘s clash with Liverpool.
As so often has been the case when it comes to Premier League refereeing, consistency continues to be an issue.