Ex-Fifa official hits out over Arsenal controversy as 'embarrassing' Jakub Kiwior claim issued
Match

Ex-Fifa official hits out over Arsenal controversy as 'embarrassing' Jakub Kiwior claim issued

Keith Hackett
Keith Hackett

Refereeing Consultant AUTHORITY Former FIFA Referee; Head of PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited). FOCUS Laws of the Game, VAR implementation, officiating performance, and PGMOL policy. THE AUDIT Keith utilises Statscore’s Officiating Telemetry, including Deep-Data Metrics like Incident Accuracy Rates, VAR Intervention Latency, and Official Positional Efficiency. He provides technical refereeing analysis to reveal the regulatory reality behind match-defining decisions.

Published on: 

Keith Hackett has insisted referee Andy Madley was right to wave away appeals from Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior in the build-up to Brighton's first goal on Sunday (14 May).

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed officials are having to fight to determine who is trying to win a "cheap free-kick".

As seen in footage posted to Twitter by Sky Sports (14 May), Brighton's Evan Ferguson looked to make contact with Kiwior in the immediate build-up to Julio Enciso's opening goal early in the first half.

Kiwior stayed down as the goal went in, but his appeals for a foul were waved away by Andy Madley - whose decision was backed up by VAR official Peter Bankes.

Sky pundit and former defender Jamie Carragher took to Twitter (14 May) to label the Arsenal defender "embarrassing" - insisting he should "get up and defend like your life depends on it".

The Gunners went on to lose 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium - meaning Man City can win the Premier League title if they defeat Chelsea on Sunday (21 May).

Hackett told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “These kinds of fouls have been given all season.

“The referees are now fighting for consistency to determine who is trying to win a cheap free-kick. I think the referee judged this one right.

“I think he was right to wave the appeals away.

“But on the game as a whole, I think this was Andy Madley’s worst performance of the season.”

In other news, Arsenal swoop for Premier League star after talks collapse.

Arsenal
Brighton & Hove Albion
www.footballinsider247.com