Exclusive: PGMOL must outlaw ‘serious’ Gomes challenge after Wolves vs Arsenal
Keith Hackett believes that PGMOL should consider tackles such as Wolves’ Joao Gomes’ red card challenge on Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber as “serious foul play.”
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former PGMOL chief, ex-FIFA, and Premier League referee believes these types of challenges should be “outlawed” due to the nature of the tackle.
The challenge occurred in the 70th minute and levelled the playing field, as Michael Oliver had sent off Myles Lewis-Skelly in an earlier incident.
That decision sparked controversy and was deemed “wrong” by Hackett, but Gomes’ situation was quite the contrary.
His foot was planted on Timber’s lower Achilles, but luckily, the Dutch defender was able to continue playing for the rest of the game.
Keith Hackett believes Wolves player was reckless in his challenge
The Brazilian was kept on by Vitor Pereira despite his earlier yellow card in the match and was consequently sent off later for his high tackle on Timber.
However, he was given a yellow card, not a straight red, meaning he will only miss one game for the side, which is against Aston Villa on 1 February.
Unlike Lewis-Skelly, who will miss three straight games, including matches against Man City and Newcastle.
Gomes’ infringement, and similar types of challenges, was criticised by Hackett, as he told Football Insider:
“Frankly, I would like to see this type of challenge outlawed. It is a minimum yellow for a reckless challenge.
“I would suggest that the PGMOL should start to interpret these lower-leg Achilles challenges as serious foul play.”
Despite the adversity, Mikel Arteta’s team came out as winners after substitute Riccardo Calafiori netted the winner in the 74th minute.
The loss leaves Pereira’s side in 17th position, only above the relegation zone and Ipswich Town by goal difference. They can thank Matheus Cunha for their goals, although he has been heavily linked with a move away to opponents Arsenal.
In other news, Wolves are working on signing in this position in the final few days of the January transfer window.
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