Liverpool star was a thug in World Cup final and should be banned - ex-refs chief
Argentina star Alexis Mac Allister committed multiple yellow card offences in the World Cup final and was lucky to avoid a sending-off and ban.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that the Liverpool star, undoubtedly, should have been cautioned early on and then again many times later by referee Slavko Vincic.
Instead of the midfielder being cautioned, though, Vincic showed leniency, which in turn, opened the floodgates to some pretty serious fouls.
Leandro Paredes might have already been given his marching orders when Enzo Fernandez finally saw red in the third minute of added time, leaving Pau Cubarsi in a heap on the floor.
Many viewers felt that the referee had let the game get away from him, and it all started when Mac Allister flew into his early challenge on Olmo.
Alexis Mac Allister avoided obvious caution - 'No question in my mind'
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett criticised Vincic for not stamping his authority on the game, finally putting the debate around Mac Allister to bed.
"I think there's no question in my mind that this was an opportunity for the referee to stamp his authority," he said.
"You're not looking at the players, you're looking at the style of play and we know that Argentina, throughout this competition have frustrated opponents by committing fouls.
"So, I think Mac Allister was fortunate on two counts. One, on this one, I don't think there was any doubt that it was a yellow card.
"But then, after, he committed a series of offences, and there is a law, right, that says persistently infringing the laws of the game is equally a yellow card.
"How many times did Mac Allister foul and not get a yellow card? Too many. The referee either didn't detect it or he just allowed him to do things that he shouldn't have been allowed to do."
What did the stats say about Mac Allister's performance?
It certainly wasn't the performance that Liverpool fans have come to expect from the 27-year-old.
He was eventually punished in extra time, but only for dissent, having made three fouls without being cautioned in the World Cup final [FotMob].
The midfielder created no chances and had no shots, being dispossesed twice, winning just 38 per cent of his ground duels, and being fouled twice.
While he did make two tackles, two clearances and five recoveries, Mac Allister was dribbled past four times, and likely left the field disappointed in himself.