‘Red-card offence’ – Ex-PGMOL hits out at Michael Oliver over unseen Emi Buendia controversy vs Burnley
Andrew Kitchen and Michael Oliver failed to issue a clear red card after a clash between Emi Buendia and Zian Flemming.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that the Burnley striker should have been sent off against Aston Villa on Sunday, 5 October.
Donyell Malen scored a brace at Villa Park as Unai Emery‘s side claimed their fourth consecutive win in all competitions, seeing the club move up to 13th in the Premier League table after seven matches.
The game did not come without its controversial moments, though, as the likes of Buendia and Evann Guessand were brought on to close out a narrow win over the newly promoted Clarets.
Ziam Flemming with a clear elbow on Emi Buendia
Villa were open to selling Buendia during the summer transfer window, but since then, the Argentine has notched three goal contributions across all competitions, becoming a key part of the group.
Ollie Watkins is still not at his best for the Villans, so it has been vital for those around him to perform during his drop in form, but Buendia could only last 25 minutes before being substituted again.
He had picked up a yellow card for his own aerial challenge before being left on the floor holding his face in the third minute of injury time, with replays showing a stray elbow from Burnley’s No.19.
Flemming went completely unpunished, even with VAR present at Villa Park, and rewatching the incident, Hackett could not believe that Oliver was unable to sanction the incident while in charge of the technology.
Michael Oliver told he is to blame for missed red card at Villa Park
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the incident, the former referee said: “You don’t have to ask me that question. The arm has left the body, makes contact with the player’s face, and the player has gone to the left holding his face.
“That is a red-card offence. Andrew Kitchen is a young referee, and he might just be too far right of the incident and has missed it. Does VAR come in on this one?
“They should have intervened and sent Kitchen to the monitor. Had he been sent to the monitor for another view, he would have sent him off.
“Michael Oliver should have come in and helped him. It’s a deliberate elbow; it’s serious foul play because there’s force behind it. It’s a clear and obvious error. With all of his experience, Oliver should have come in and sent the referee to the monitor.”