Isaac Hayden could escape FA action as Newcastle controversy analysed – ex-Premier League referee
Keith Hackett has tipped Newcastle United midfielder Isaac Hayden to escape punishment for criticising referee David Coote.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Fifa and Premier League official claimed the FA tend to only come in “when a comment is personalised.”
The Magpies 1-0 defeat at Chelsea was clouded by controversy because of decisions not taken by referee David Coote and VAR official John Brooks.
The duo opted against awarding Jacob Murphy a penalty following a clumsy challenge from Trevoh Chalobah.
The officials also decided not to send off Kai Havertz for an elbow on Dan Burn, much to the dismay of the visitors.
Newcastle midfielder Isaac Hayden, 26, took to Twitter after the match (13 March) to voice his dissatisfaction with the standard of officiating.
He said his teammates played “against 12 men” on Sunday, suggesting referee Coote was biased.
When asked if Hayden would be punished by the FA for the Tweet, Hackett told Football Insider‘s Dylan Childs: “I think he might get away with it.
“When a comment is personalised, the FA invariably come in and take action.
“Ultimately, he is frustrated because he wants better performances from the officials, like we all do.
“When I was boss of the PGMOL, I used to look forward to the days when 10 games took place in the Premier League and I had no controversy. In reality, most weekends I had one.
“In the Newcastle game alone, we had two. There is five or six every weekend which is not good enough.”
In other news, Newcastle United have been told to call PGMOL chief after ‘infuriating’ Kai Havertz ‘statement’.