Credit: Imago / TNT Sports

Harri Burton

Mon 27 April 2026 11:45, UK Updated Mon 27 April 2026 12:08, UK

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Howard Webb must make an example out of Leeds United‘s Dominic Calvert-Lewin to help create consistency across the PGMOL.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that, while it was not enough for a red card against Chelsea, referees can’t seem to agree.

It was only two weeks ago when Lisandro Martinez was sent off for a hair pull on Leeds’ No.9, but at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, 26 April, Calvert-Lewin avoided the same fate.

In the 25th minute, the England international appeared to drag Marc Cucurella back by his hair. Despite a VAR review, Jarred Gillett kept all 22 players on the pitch, causing a lot of questions to emerge.

Howard Webb has questions to answer after Dominic Calvert-Lewin incident

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “When you have areas of contention, like hair-pulling or serious foul play, you get your referees in a room and ask them to talk it through. 

“Having listened to the referee’s process, you get an agreement over what kind of action will be taken on these incidents. What is the level at which a pull is decided as a pull? Does it need to be sustained?

“Hopefully, they move towards a level of consistency. That’s the only way. There needs to be the same level of approach for each incident.

“People have made it clear to me on social media that any hair-pulling should be a red card. If that’s the case, be consistent. I don’t see it as an act of violence, though.” 

What did Keith Hackett say about Lisandro Martinez’s red card?

Unlike the PGMOL, Hackett is extremely consistent when it comes to his opinions on controversial incidents, with the former referee having none of Martinez’s sending off either.

Following the game on 13 April, he exclusively told Football Insider: “When you see replays of this incident, I frankly cannot understand how the referee can come to the decision that it’s a red card.

“I didn’t see any movement of his opponent’s head jerking backwards. If the panel judging the incident sticks to the law, then the appeal by Manchester United will succeed.”

Sadly for the Red Devils, their appeal against Martinez’s red card was not successful, seeing him suspended for three matches due to violent conduct.