Keith Hackett: Arsenal star ‘should have been red-carded’ in unseen Sunderland incident
Arsenal were fortunate not to go down to 10 men during a four-goal Premier League thriller against Sunderland.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that the PGMOL are to blame for allowing a growing trend in “semi-stamping” challenges.
Riccardo Calafiori was lucky not to be booked after hauling Trai Hume down in the final stages of the 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light, with several others going into referee Craig Pawson‘s notebook.
It was a Premier League classic on Saturday, 8 November, with Dan Ballard and Brian Brobbey goals sandwiching efforts from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard, with the Gunners aiming for the league title.
Jurrien Timber avoids sending off vs Sunderland
Alan Shearer was massively impressed by Sunderland’s performance against one of the title favourites, with the result allowing Pep Guardiola‘s Man City to go within four points of top spot.
The result could have been even better for the Black Cats had the Gunners had a player sent off, though, and Pawson appeared to totally miss a challenge from Jurrien Timber, who landed studs-up high on the opposition’s foot.
Timber was not even shown a yellow card for the challenge, and with the video circulating on social media, more and more supporters are baffled over how the full-back avoided any punishment.
Reacting to the incident, Hackett has suggested that, while the tackle was missed by the referee, it is the PGMOL and Howard Webb to blame, with officials likely not being instructed to punish these offences.
PGMOL and Howard Webb have questions to answer over Arsenal star’s challenge
Hackett spoke exclusively to Football Insider, saying: “We have a loose interpretation of the laws of the game, and a failure to recognise that these challenges, which have a semi-stamping approach with a landing area on the boot or lower leg, get away with it.
“The player has completely overstepped the ball and into the player. That’s an offence that merits a sanction, but it’s not forthcoming. Players are very good at hiding challenges, and because there is a loose approach from the PGMOL, we are seeing more of them.
“For me, that challenge has endangered the safety of an opponent. I’m quite clear that these challenges need to be outlawed. There needs to be a firmer approach by the PGMOL.
“Referees should be all about the safety of the players. But these challenges are growing. He should have been red-carded.”