Keith Hackett: Milos Kerkez rightly banned amid Iraola anger at Cunha incident
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola can have few complaints about losing Milos Kerkez to suspension after the FA Cup win over Wolves, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider it was inevitable the full-back would receive some punishment for his involvement in Matheus Cunha’s sending off.
Bournemouth secured their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a 5-4 penalty shootout victory over Wolves at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday (1 March) with the game finishing 1-1 after extra time.
However, their hopes of progressing beyond the last eight have already been dealt a blow after what happened during their victory over Vitor Pereira’s side.
Milos Kerkez facing FA Cup ban
There were several controversial incidents in that game, not least the long VAR check needed to disallow a second goal for Bournemouth.
Another came late in extra time, following a tussle for the ball just inside the hosts’ half of the pitch.
The Wolves striker Cunha reacted angrily to Kerkez and was sent off after kicking out, swinging an arm and aiming a headbutt in the defender’s direction.
| Bournemouth last five games | Result |
| Everton (A) | Won 2-0 |
| Southampton (A) | Won 3-1 |
| Wolves (H) | Lost 1-0 |
| Brighton (A) | Lost 2-1 |
| Wolves (H) | Drew 1-1 (won 5-4 on penalties) |
Referee Sam Barrott also booked the Bournemouth full-back for his part in the incident, his second yellow card in the FA Cup this season.
That has frustrated Iraola since it now means Kerkez will be suspended for the quarter final, despite him being on the receiving end of that reaction from Cunha.
Hackett though feels that the Hungarian international was always going to receive punishment for the part he played in starting the clash with Wolves striker.
Keith Hackett assesses Bournemouth suspension frustration
When asked by Football Insider whether Iraola can feel hard done by over the suspension his full-back is now facing, the former referee said:
“I can understand, there’s no question that Barrott’s got this right with the dismissal (of Cunha), I don’t think there’s any doubts about that, the reaction of the player.
“But I think what he’s seen is, he’s seen a Bournemouth player come towards him, challenging that and probably thinks to himself ‘well you’re part to blame, for the consequences of the blow-up’.
“The actions of the players, in that particular incident, I think Barrott again has got it right. This is a referee who’s really come on and is actually delivering some top level performances, he’s really in the top three of English refereeing at the moment and he’s moved into that position very quickly.
“I think he’s right: ‘you’re going and you’re part to blame because you’ve approached the player so I’m cautioning you’.
“I think that’s spot on, good refereeing.”
Bournemouth’s quarter final will see them host Man City at the Vitality Stadium at the end of March.