PGMOL expert: Referee should be suspended after Man United-West Ham controversy
Howard Webb must suspend one of his referees from Premier League action following a key decision between Man United and West Ham.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that Nuno Espirito Santo’s side got away with one against Man United at Old Trafford.
Andrew Kitchen was officiating just his third Premier League game as the two sides met on Thursday, 4 December, but it was far from a spectacle as the score finished 1-1.
Diogo Dalot scored the opener just before the hour mark, with Soungoutou Magassa salvaging a point for the Hammers away from home, as the game entered the final 10 minutes.
Andrew Kitchen at fault for missed incidents at Old Trafford
Home supporters were already annoyed when Freddie Potts avoided a yellow card for a late challenge on Bruno Fernandes, but that was blown out of the water after Aaron Wan-Bissaka was not sent off.
Having already been cautioned, the full-back charged into a late challenge on Patrick Dorgu, and after the referee gave an advantage to the Red Devils, fans expected the player to be punished once the ball went out of play.
It would have been a red card for the former Man United defender, but Kitchen allowed him to continue playing, booking Luke Shaw soon after for taking Jarrod Bowen down.
With such a clear decision missed by the inexperienced official, Hackett, a former head of the PGMOL, believes that Webb should relieve him of his duties for the upcoming round of Premier League fixtures.
Howard Webb must take action after Aaron Wan-Bissaka controversy
Hackett, exclusively speaking to Football Insider on The Final Whistle, said: “We put it under the banner of operational advice. But I was very clear, I’m from South Yorkshire, so I’m saying that his performance wasn’t up to par this week.
“So don’t expect a game next week. There needs to be that level of accountability. A poor performance? Stay out for at least a week because you’re not having a Premier League game.”
Kitchen has yet to officiate in another Premier League fixture since, and it remains to be seen if he will be chosen when referees are announced for the next round of games.