Hackett: ‘Nailed on’ referee error as Brighton escape red card v Man United
Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh could have been booked even before he was yellow-carded for a challenge late in the first half of his side’s win over Man United, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the 20-year-old was reckless with a challenge on Diogo Dalot early in the game.
It was an eventful game for the former Newcastle man as his side won 3-1 at Old Trafford on Sunday (19 January) as he opened the scoring after just five minutes.
However, he was perhaps also fortunate not to have received two yellows cards before half-time in that win over Man United as well.
Yakuba Minteh could have been sent off for Brighton vs Man United
With 43 minutes on the clock in that game, Minteh was booked by referee Peter Bankes for a challenge on Mathijs De Ligt.
Half-an-hour before that though, the winger was fortunate not to receive another yellow for a challenge on another Man United player.
As Diogo Dalot looked to break forward for the hosts, he was challenged from behind by Minteh, who caught the ankle of the opposition man between his own-legs in a scissor-like motion.
The winger though was not cautioned in this incident by Bankes, meaning he stayed on the pitch after his subsequent challenge on De Ligt.
Hackett though believes Minteh should have seen red in an eventful first half from a personal perspective against Man United.
Speaking to Football Insider about the Brighton man’s challenge on Dalot that he was not booked for, the former referee said:
“That’s a cautionable offence it’s reckless, the way he’s stopped a promising attack it’s a nailed on yellow card not given. Minteh should have been yellow-carded there no question.”
Given the score locked at 1-1 when Minteh was eventually booked, things might have played out differently in the match had he received a yellow for that challenge on Dalot.
Brighton themselves were also frustrated in this game, not least when they saw a goal ruled out in the second half after a challenge between Jan Paul van Hecke and Dalot in the Man United area.
While the Seagulls are ninth in the table, Ruben Amorim’s side have slipped to 13th in the standings over the weekend, with just two wins in their last nine Premier League games.
In other news, Man United fans have slammed Noussair Mazraoui after what happened against Brighton.
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