Exclusive: Ipswich’s Jacob Greaves escapes Arsenal sanction after referee forgets
Ipswich Town were not helped by the red card for Leif Davis during their defeat to Arsenal but have escaped punishment elsewhere, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that Jacob Greaves should have been booked for a challenge on Martin Odegaard in the build-up to that sending off.
Arsenal made Liverpool wait a bit longer to lift the Premier League title by beating the Tractor Boys 4-0 at Portman Road on Sunday (20 April).
They were helped in their cause when Ipswich were reduced to ten men following a studs up challenge by Davis on Bukayo Saka that prompted Chris Kavanagh to produce a red card.
Martin Odegaard floored by Jacob Greaves before Leif Davis red
Mikel Arteta’s side had already taken a 2-0 lead in the match by the half-hour mark thanks to goals from Leandro Torssard and Gabriel Martinelli.
Just moments later Davis was dismissed for his challenge on Saka, which came after Kavanagh had played advantage from a challenge from Greaves on Odegaard.
| Jacob Greaves vs Arsenal | Total (as per SofaScore) |
| Successful Passes | 14/17 |
| Clearances | 9 |
| Blocked Shots | 3 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Tackles | 2 |
| Fouls | 0 |
The Ipswich centre-back had caught his Arsenal counterpart with a high challenge, which meant the midfielder was still on the floor by the time his teammate had been fouled to produce the red card.
Now, Hackett believes the distraction caused by the dismissal of Davis, may have got Greaves out of some trouble when it came to his own foul.
Ipswich Town man avoids punishment amid Arsenal red card drama
After being asked by Football Insider about whether play should have been pulled up to avoid getting to the point where Davis fouled Saka, and if Greaves was lucky not to be sanctioned himself, Hackett said:
“That is a reckless challenge for which he should have received a yellow card. It’s always dangerous when a referee applies an advantage on a yellow card.
“I think it’s just a bit of bad luck frankly, that then he gets a red card challenge. He could, if he wished, go back to caution the player who has committed that challenge having played an advantage on it.
“But I think he’s dealing with the red card and he’s forgotten that one, and that player [Greaves] is very fortunate not to receive a yellow card for a reckless challenge.
“Now had he penalised that, the other challenge wouldn’t have happened, but that’s football.”
Ipswich will now see their relegation from the Premier League confirmed on Saturday (26 April) if they fail to beat Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
There will be plenty of speculation around Portman Road should that happen, with Fulham and Brentford understood to be interested in Kieran McKenna in case they lose their own managers this summer.