Ex-refs chief accuses Arsenal player of ‘cheating' v Man City, demands rule change

Riccardo Calafiori was cheating after he tried to win a penalty during Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that referee Sam Barrott was right to book the defender for simulation.

The Gunners won their first trophy of the 2026-27 campaign with ease on Sunday as they quickly dispatched Enzo Maresca’s side.

Calafiori was one of many players who had an excellent game, as the 24-year-old netted the opening goal inside a minute.

However, this performance was soured when the defender went down inside the box to try and win a penalty, despite there being little to no contact.

Upon reviewing the footage, Hackett was appalled and has even called for referees to be able to give players a yellow card for simulation if a player goes down in the box looking for a spot kick, and the officials and VAR agreed that it should not be given.

Keith Hackett: Riccardo Calafiori cheated vs Man City

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett was quick to praise the referee for handing the Arsenal star a card for simulation.

He said: “The first thing is that it's refreshing to see. I know this is the first game of the season; well, it's before the season starts, but I hope referees are going to continue on this path.

“Sam Barrott is an established, good referee who has come through very quickly, is very experienced and is officiating really well. 

“So for me I think it's great that we've got another named referee that appears to be a safe pair of hands

“The more referees penalise acts of simulation, diving, the less players will do it. 

“This borders on the amusing, but not because it's so bad.

“If referees are not going to take the action unilaterally across all the group, all the games, then we will never get rid of this aspect of the game which is damaging to the image.

“There's no other word for it than cheating. That's what they're doing. They're trying to win a penalty kick or feign that they've been punched or received a strike to the head. 

“All these sorts of nonsense things that go on. Fans are not daft. Whoever you support, they don't like it, and I share their view. 

“And I think referees like Barrett have set the scene, but until there is a consistent approach, players will continue to simulate. 

“One thing I want to see happen is that, when a player goes down in the penalty area screaming for a penalty kick, and the referee goes no, VAR checks no, then that referee should go to that player and issue a yellow card for simulation. I think that's pretty clear. 

“We've had, in recent seasons, checks on penalty kicks, no penalty kick awarded, and the players have got away with it. It's a risk and reward, isn't it, for the player?

“But it's an unacceptable part of the game, and well done to Barrett.”

What were the stats in Arsenal vs Man City?

Despite Calafiori’s unsavoury antics, it was an excellent all-round day for the Gunners.

Mikel Arteta’s side completely dismantled one of their biggest title rivals going into the new campaign.

This is shown in the stats, with Arsenal having a 2.16 xG to City’s 1.12, four big chances compared to their one and the same number of shots on target at five.

However, it remains to be seen if the Gunners are able to keep up this type of performance throughout the entire 2026-27 campaign.