‘As bad as Cristian Romero’ – Ex-refs chiefs rips into VAR for failing to send off player in Arsenal vs Sunderland
Keith Hackett has lambasted the PGMOL after Brian Brobbey was not sent off for a rash tackle on Martin Zubimendi during Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Sunderland.
The former PGMOL boss and FIFA referee has exclusively told Football Insider that Brobbey should have been sent off after Cristian Romero saw red for a similar tackle earlier on Saturday.
Arsenal ran out 3-0 winners against Sunderland at Emirates Stadium through a strike from Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres’ second-half brace.
Mikel Arteta‘s side cruised past their opponents to move nine points ahead of Man City at the top of the Premier League table, but their afternoon could have been made easier after Brobbey avoided a first half dismissal.
Brobbey scored against Arsenal in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, but was fortunate not to receive his marching orders after lunging in on Zubimendi.
Brian Brobbey was only booked for a studs-up tackle on Martin Zubimendi
Brobbey is a physical striker who plays with his heart on his sleeve, but it looked as if he had overstepped the mark in the 40th minute against Arsenal as he caught Zubimendi with his studs in a 50/50 challenge.
Replays showed that the Dutchman clearly tried to win the ball, but did plant the top of his boot into the Arsenal midfielder’s shin, yet referee Sam Barrott only brandished a yellow card.
VAR failed to intervene and Brobbey escaped from the challenge with just a booking, even though Tottenham’s Romero had been sent off against Man United for a similar tackle just hours earlier.
Hackett slams PGMOL as Brobbey foul compared to Romero’s
Michael Oliver sent Romero off in an instant after his rash, studs-up tackle on Casemiro during United’s 2-0 win over Spurs in the early Saturday game, with Hackett telling Football Insider that it was the correct call.
Brobbey produced a very similar tackle on Zubimendi not long after, but his was surprisingly not adjudged to be a sending-off offence.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-PGMOL chief was in disbelief that the Sunderland striker had not been given a red card for the foul.
He said: “I see no difference in this challenge on that of Cristian Romero earlier today that should have equally received a red card for serious foul play.
“This highlights the inconsistency of delivering an appropriate sanction from the PGMOL officials.“