Ex-Premier League referee: Vladimir Coufal should get extended ban as West Ham footage emerges on BBC
Keith Hackett has suggested West Ham star Vladimir Coufal was fortunate to avoid a red card for his last-ditch foul on Brentford ace Yoane Wissa on Friday (30 December).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee suggested covering defender Craig Dawson "saved" his teammate with his presence.
As seen on BBC's Match of the Day (1:23:22, 31 December), Coufal was shown a yellow card by referee Darren England after bringing down Brentford star Wissa - who was bearing down on goal.
The Czechia international was incensed by the decision, believing he had won a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge against the winger.
Brentford went on to win the game 2-0 through goals from Ivan Toney and Josh Dasilva - leaving West Ham outside the Premier League drop zone only on goal difference.
Hackett told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “The covering defender left the doubt in the referee’s mind – and he took the easy decision.
“I think it was the right thing to do.
“Dawson might have just got in a challenge, so he’s saved his teammate there. The process is clear.
“Take Coufal out of the equation, leave the attacker running through on goal. The referee now has to judge whether the other defender could have made a challenge.
“It’s not easy, but the referee has weighed up all the probabilities and made a judgement. There’s a lot to take in.”
Coufal is currently out of contract at the end of the season, but West Ham have the option to extend his deal a further two years.
Sources told this site in November that the Irons are willing to sell the right-back this month for an offer of around £6million.