Keith Hackett reacts to controversial Malick Thiaw incident in Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle
Malick Thiaw was at the centre of a major talking point during the 2-2 draw between Bayer Leverkusen and Newcastle on Wednesday.
The Magpies were forced to settle for a point in the Champions League, as they succumbed to a late equaliser from the hosts.
An own-goal from Bruno Guimaraes had put Leverkusen in front in the early stages, before a penalty from Anthony Gordon and a header from Lewis Miley turned the game in the second half.
Newcastle were beaten by Marseille in their last Champions League outing, and they were dealt a blow again this time around, when Alejandro Grimaldo earned his team a share of the points in the 88th minute.
Keith Hackett believes Malick Thiaw rightfully avoided a red card
Malick Thiaw has been a key player for Newcastle so far this season, and he has impressed with his displays following his summer move from AC Milan.
The German started at the heart of the defence for Eddie Howe’s men once again on Wednesday, but he was perhaps lucky to stay on the pitch after a foul on Patrik Schik in the 21st minute.
The striker got beyond the last line of defence and was tripped by Thiaw just outside the Newcastle box, with referee Serdar Gozubuyuk awarding a free-kick to the German side.
Thiaw was shown a yellow card for his challenge, with Tino Livramento deemed to be provided sufficient cover to help his teammate avoid a red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Former FIFA referee and ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett – speaking exclusively to Football Insider – believes that the man in the middle came to the correct decision.
“Newcastle’s Thiaw avoided a red card because there was a covering defender, so a yellow and a free-kick was the correct decision,” Hackett said.
Malick Thiaw topped this stat in Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle
Thiaw’s performances for Newcastle have delighted Howe in recent weeks, and he made some typically crucial interventions during Wednesday’s European tie.
| Stats | Thiaw Total |
| Accurate Passes | 40/43 (93%) |
| Tackles Won | 3 |
| Defensive Contributions | 15 |
| Ground Duels Won | 3/5 (60%) |
| Aerial Duels Won | 2/3 (67%) |
No player on the pitch won more tackles than the 24-year-old, who emerged victorious from three challenges during the 90 minutes.
That impressive return made up part of a staggering 15 defensive contributions from the German, who played a vital role in ensuring that his team came away with at least a point to show for their efforts.
The centre-back was imperious at the heart of the backline yet again, and he is quickly making his £34.6million transfer fee look like a bargain.