‘This is no different to a player thumping his opponent’ as Arsenal vs Sunderland controversy stuns
Sunderland should have been reduced to 10 men during their 3-0 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that Samuel Barrott missed a clear sending off on Saturday, 7 February.
It was important that Arsenal claimed all three points against Sunderland, with Man City beating Liverpool at Anfield, and they did so in style, thanks to Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres.
Arsenal’s pitch was also a major talking point, but Mikel Arteta‘s side got the job done against the high-flying Black Cats, with his players also coming out the other side unscathed.
Viktor Gyokeres could have been massively injured vs Sunderland
That could have been a very different story, though. Just weeks ago, Micky van de Ven broke Alexander Isak’s leg, and a similar situation might have emerged during the 90 minutes at the weekend.
In the third minute of added time, Gyokeres put the icing on the cake with the Gunners’ third goal, ending up on the floor while doing his famous celebration.
However, as new footage of his goal emerged online, many fans felt that Reinildo should have been sent off after flying studs-up into the forward’s knee, which could have left the player injured.
The referee was not close enough to see the incident, but even with VAR in operation, there was not even a check, and Hackett remains in total disbelief that this was not picked up during the game.
Keith Hackett furious as Reinildo avoids blatant red card
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “Here is a challenge worthy of a red card. This is no different from the ball being in the back of the net, and the No.9 thumps an opponent.
“He’s come in late; he’s come in high. He could pull out of it. There’s malice in it; there’s serious foul play, and he should have walked.
“This is about basic refereeing. These clips, when they go unpunished, should be reviewed and discussed. How did he get away with it? It’s the question we’re all asking.”