Keith Hackett re-analyses Nathan Ngoy and Issa Diop 'red-card' incidents: 'One is 100% wrong'

Nathan Ngoy and Issa Diop's last-ditch challenges at the 2026 World Cup should resulted in the same punishments.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that inconsistencies in officiating are to blame as new controversy arised at the summer tournament.

Scotland supporters were absolutely furious when Diop avoided a red card during their defeat to Morocco on Friday, 19 June, and that frustration has only deepened since.

On Sunday, 21 June, Ngoy was given his marching orders for a similar incident, but different referees came to two completely different conclusions just days apart.

Supporters of all nations have raised concerns over some of the officiating at the 2026 World Cup, and the comparison of these incidents is possibly the biggest red flag of them all.

Reviewing the footage of both fouls, Hackett was adamant that both should have resulted in a red card, with only those in charge on the day to blame.

Scotland frustrations vindicated after Nathan Ngoy red card

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: "One's got it 100 per cent correct, and the other referee's got it 100 per cent wrong.

"So there's nothing wrong with the law. I've explained the four pieces of criteria and Diop should have gone.

"So this is down to the competence of the referee and the VAR. In not sending that player off, Diop, the referee has made a clear and obvious error.

"As a consequence, VAR should have come in and sent that referee to the screen. The Scottish player was effectively on his own.

"There's no chance of covering defenders coming in, in my opinion."

What do Scotland need in their final group stage game?

Scotland got off to a reasonably good start, just about securing three points against Haiti in their World Cup opener.

The game against Morocco didn't quite go to plan, though, leaving them in third place in Group C, leaving supporters wanting so much more from the team performance.

Steve Clarke's side are all-but-guaranteed to advance to the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed teams, but the Scots will want more.

Group C would be blown open if the Tartan Army can defeat Brazil in their final game, but as it stands, they will face Germany in the round of 32.