Southampton news: Ex-Fifa official lambasts ‘excessive’ Ainsley Maitland-Niles as footage emerges
Bournemouth defender Chris Mepham should have been sent off for his challenge on Southampton midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles on Wednesday night.
That is the view of former Fifa and Premier League official Keith Hackett, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the decision in Southampton’s 1-0 win at the Vitality Stadium.
As shown on BBC’s Match of the Day (20 October), Maitland-Niles reacted angrily after Mepham, 24, narrowly missed him with a high, late challenge near the corner flag.
Referee John Brooks did not deem the incident as worthy of a red card and VAR official Peter Bankes did not adjudge a clear and obvious error to have been made by his colleague.
Hackett suggested Mepham was lucky not to have been shown a straight red card by the officials.
“It does not matter whether he makes contact with the opponent,” he told Football Insider.
“I thought that challenge was excessive. He came in high and should have been shown a red card.
“That is an unacceptable challenge. Hopefully his manager, who is very sensible, will have had a word in his ear.
“I think VAR should have come in on this instance because he has left the ground. There is venom in it. I am really surprised VAR did not come in on this one.”
Maitland-Niles is on loan at St. Mary’s this season.
He was ineligible to face his parent club Arsenal on Sunday (23 October).
In other news, a source has revealed Southampton are plotting a move for a ‘phenomenal’ Celtic star.