Portsmouth vs Oxford United: Keith Hackett reacts to Connor Ogilvie red card controversy
Portsmouth defender Connor Ogilvie was rightly sent off by referee Joshua Smith during their 2-2 draw with Championship relegation rivals Oxford United.
Former PGMOL chief and FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, has told Football Insider that the Pompey man used excessive force and deserved to be dismissed early on at Fratton Park on Monday afternoon.
Ogilvie saw red for a rash challenge on Oxford’s Stanley Mills in the 17th minute, not long after Keshi Anderson had fired the hosts ahead.
Portsmouth boss John Mousinho was outraged at the decision as their fans fumed at referee Smith, with Oxford then going ahead in the second half before Andre Dozzell’s late equaliser.
The result leaves Pompey just outside of the relegation zone with six games to play, but they will be without key man Ogilvie for the next three of those after the controversial call.
Keith Hackett backs Connor Ogilvie red card decision – ‘Well done referee’
Sky Sports pundits Tim Sherwood and Jamie Mackie each said live on air that they felt Ogilvie only deserved a yellow for the challenge.
It was certainly high and forceful, but those connected to the hosts felt like Mills made a meal of it and a yellow would have sufficed given the magnitude of the game.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former PGMOL boss Hackett praised referee Smith and insisted that he made the correct call in sending the Pompey left-back off due to the forceful nature of his tackle.
| Date | Fixture |
| 11 April | Middlesbrough (a) |
| 14 April | Ipswich (H) |
| 18 April | Leicester (H) |
| 21 April | Coventry (a) |
| 25 April | Stoke (a) |
| 2 May | Birmingham (H) |
He said: “The referee judged this incident very accurately, (with) the sent off player Connor Ogilvie committing a serious foul play challenge.
“He was off the ground, out of control, using excessive force that clearly endangered the safety of his opponent. Red for sure – well done referee.”
What has Mousinho said about Ogilvie being sent off?
Portsmouth will now be missing their starting left-back for vital matches against Middlesbrough, Ipswich Town and Leicester City.
Mousinho fumed at the call and revealed that the club will appeal the decision, with back-up left-back Zak Swanson still out injured.
He said: “My take on it in real time was that I just didn’t think anyone in the stadium was expecting it to be a red, including Oxford. If you look at their reaction, no one is asking for anything.
“If you’re going to do something as monumental as that in a game like this, you have to be 100 per cent sure. We’ll definitely appeal.”
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