Ex-Premier League referee: Aaron Ramsdale should get extended ban as controversial Arsenal footage analysed
Aaron Ramsdale should have been sent off as Arsenal beat West Ham 3-1 yesterday (1 May), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed Ramsdale should have been shown a red card for his challenge on Jarrod Bowen and it does not matter that there was no contact.
The 23-year-old came running out of his penalty area and launched into a challenge on Bowen as he was played in behind the Arsenal defence.
No contact was made but Bowen went down and Mike Dean showed him a yellow card for simulation.
A straight red for Ramsdale would have seen him banned for Arsenal's next three Premier League games with Leeds United, Tottenham and Newcastle United.
"Contact doesn't matter," Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
"The laws of the game are quite specific. If a player endangers the safety of an opponent then it is a red card offence.
"You can endanger a fellow motorist by driving a car without crashing it. You can drive through a zebra crossing without hitting someone but you've endangered that person who is crossing.
"I can remember several years ago Cristiano Ronaldo being sent off correctly for putting in a challenge that was one foot raised very high, aimed at his opponent that missed. That dismissal was upheld.
"I think Ramsdale can count himself very, very fortunate.
"In fairness, I don't have any worries about the referee on the day because this is not an easy judgement to make.
"We've got VAR. I think this is a red card offence and VAR should have asked the referee to go to the monitor.
"If you are looking from some distance away you don't know how close the goalkeeper is from his opponent. He could in fact be several yards away. All those sorts of problems with vision and depth of vision.
"For me, he's a lucky boy not to get a red card."