Exclusive: Referee ‘100% incorrect’ over key Wimbledon vs Crewe decision
Crewe Alexandra should not have had Jamie Knight-Lebel sent off during their defeat to AFC Wimbledon, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the defender did not deny a goalscoring opportunity when conceding a penalty in that game at Plough Lane.
Both teams will have been looking to give their League Two promotion hopes a boost when they went head to head on Tuesday night (11 February).
In the end it was AFC Wimbledon who came out on top in that match, but only after a key decision had gone against Crewe.
Jamie Knight-Lebel controversially sent off in AFC Wimbledon defeat
With 39 minutes on the clock and the score still locked at 0-0, a high ball was sent into the visitors penalty area by Jake Reeves.
As Omar Bugiel attempted to win the ball, he was hauled to the ground by Knight-Lebel, prompting referee Andrew Humphries to award a penalty against Crewe.
To the shock of seemingly everyone connected with Lee Bell‘s side, the official then elected to send off the centre-back, who is currently on loan from Championship side Bristol City.
Hackett has now stated that Humphries got the decision to dismiss the 20-year-old completely wrong, as the height on the ball meant there was no guarantee Bugiel would reach it, and therefore no certainty a goalscoring opportunity was being prevented.
Keith Hackett slams referee over costly Crewe Alexandra decision
Speaking to Football Insider about the decision to send off Knight-Lebel against AFC Wimbledon, the former referee said:
“The referee red-carded the player for DOGSO (Denial Of a Goal Scoring Opportunity). He is 100% incorrect in law.
“The law states the following criteria must be considered: The distance between the offence and the goal; general direction of play; likelihood of keeping or gaining control of the ball; location and number of defenders.
“The ball is in the air and the likelihood of gaining control of the ball is in my opinion zero!!”
That penalty would subsequently be despatched for AFC Wimbledon by Matty Stevens to put his side 1-0 up, before strikes from Jake Reeves and a second from Stevens secured all three points for the hosts.
They now sit fourth in the table, one points behind the automatic promotion places with a game in hand.
Crewe meanwhile are eight, only outside the play-off spots on goal difference as things stand.