Credit: Imago / beIN Sports
Credit: Imago / beIN Sports

Keith Hackett: Chelsea star could be banned retrospectively after what he did vs Crystal Palace

Harri Burton

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior football journalist specialising in refereeing and officiating; former contributor to The Football League Paper, Late Tackle, and the Premier League; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Refereeing controversies, football finance and governance, PGMOL decisions, and officiating analysis across the Premier League, EFL, and SPFL. THE INSIGHT Harri utilises a network of officiating and industry contacts to deliver verified, expert analysis of refereeing decisions and PGMOL policy. He provides the regulatory clarity behind the controversy to ensure fans get the full picture.

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Liam Rosenior could still lose one of his players despite the Chelsea star going unpunished against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that Darren England and VAR missed a blatant "horse-kick" at Selhurst Park on 25 January.

England was heavily criticised by several, especially when Jaydee Canvot was punished for a controversial handball, with Enzo Fernandez stepping up to slot the spot-kick away for the Blues' third.

With Oliver Glasner wanting to leave Palace, everything appears to be falling apart at Selhurst Park, and not even a late goal from Chris Richards could add any positivity to the situation.

Pedro Neto avoids punishment for stamping on Ismaila Sarr

Things could have been very different during the Eagles' 3-1 defeat had Pedro Neto been sent off in the 35th minute, but the incident was completely missed by officials.

Ismaila Sarr only recently returned from AFCON, but the winger was thrown straight into the action, as he was on the end of Neto's lashing out at his opponent in the first half.

With Chelsea only one goal ahead at the time, it could have been a decision that totally changed the outcome of the game, but there is still the potential for the former Wolves man to be punished.

Hackett explained that, with the incident being missed, the FA can choose to get involved, sending the incident to a review panel, before sending their findings back to the club.

The FA could get involved as Darren England and VAR miss controversy

Hackett, exclusively speaking to Football Insider on The Final Whistle, blasted the winger, saying: "What you're looking for is a degree of intensity and force. But this went unpunished.

"If the authorities decided they wanted to apply a sanction, even though there's VAR, if the officials state they haven't seen it, the FA can take it forward, and a panel will review it.

"You cannot let an incident like that go unpunished. For me, it was, at the very minimum, reckless, and therefore, he should have received a yellow card. It was more of a horse-kick, rather than a stamp, so it's reckless for me."

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