Man City news: Ex-Fifa official issues ‘illegal’ verdict as Fernandinho controversy analysed
Referee Michael Oliver was right not to penalise Man City midfielder Fernandinho for a tug on Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, according to Keith Hackett.
The ex-Fifa and Premier League official, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, said Oliver, 37, had to make “a judgement call” for what was “a subjective decision.”
Fernandinho pulled back Watkins when bearing down on goal in the first half of Man City’s 3-2 win over Aston Villa on Sunday.
Referee Michael Oliver did not deem the contact as worthy of a foul and VAR official Darren England concurred.
Fernandinho would likely have been shown a straight red for denying a goalscoring opportunity had Oliver deemed the incident as a foul.
When asked by Football Insider for his assessment, Hackett said: “This is when a referee has to make a judgement call because it was a subjective decision.
“We have a foundation in the Premier League and the Football League. Over the years referees have allowed too much grappling. There is too much illegal use of the hand and arm.
“Generally, players are doing it more. They’e doing it more because they are getting away with it. It leaves referees with a dilemma.
“The Fernandinho one was a subjective call. I think Oliver got it right.
“It is one you have to be very mindful of as a referee. It can be easily missed and if it was missed that is when VAR come in.
“I’m backing Oliver’s call thought because it is a subjective one.”
In other news, a medical expert has rubbished Man City ‘media narrative’ as Erling Haaland injury fears revealed.