Ex-refs chief: Wolves star should have seen red for controversial incident vs Man City
Yerson Mosquera should have been given his marching orders for a dreadful challenge during Wolves’ defeat to Man City at the Etihad Stadium.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that referee Farai Hallam made two huge errors during City’s 2-0 win on Saturday, 24 January.
Omar Marmoush should have won a penalty for his side in the first half, but despite being sent to the pitch-side monitor, on his Premier League debut, the referee waved those calls away.
It was only two games ago when Jeremy Doku was on the end of a foul from Diogo Dalot, which should have resulted in a sending off, and he was involved once again versus the Old Gold.
Farai Hallam experiences a difficult Premier League debut
With just a couple of minutes of normal time remaining at the Etihad, Mosquera launched into a challenge on City’s No.11, leaving in a heap on the floor and in need of treatment.
Replays showed a studs-up challenge from the centre-back, with home supporters calling for a red card to be shown, but the exit-linked 24-year-old escaped with a caution.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “I do not like these types of challenges, when the defender’s boot comes into contact with the Achilles of the attacker, like in this type of incident.
“Frankly, I would like to see these punished with a red card.”
Darren England gets completely ignored over handball controversy
While the two major decisions at the Etihad were, put simply, incorrect, it was a nice change to see a referee stick to his guns rather than bow down to the VAR officials.
However, on this occasion, Darren England was completely correct to usher the referee over to the pitch-side monitor, with the majority of fans expecting a penalty to be given.
Mosquera was involved once again, with Marmoush’s flick hitting the defender on the elbow, and even though the Egyptian still got a shot off, it was a blatant offence inside the penalty area.
Nonetheless, Pep Guardiola‘s side got back to winning ways after Man City lost to Man United and Bodo/Glimt in consecutive games, keeping up the race on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.