Ex-Premier League official wants FIFA law change despite Leeds United update on Illan Meslier
We’re delighted to welcome former Premier League referee Keith Hackett to the MOT Leeds News team. Each week, Hackett will discuss the big moments from the latest Leeds United games and deliver his verdict on whether his successors got their calls right or wrong…
Keith Hackett is still disappointed with Raul Jimenez’s red card for Wolves in their 3-2 defeat to Leeds United at Molineux before the international break.
Jimenez, 30, was shown his marching orders for a second yellow card after a coming together with Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
The 22-year-old Frenchman was forced off due to injury and an official update by Leeds on Sunday [27 March] confirmed that the shot-stopper “suffered severe bruising to his upper thigh and lower torso”.
Despite the heavy bruising, Meslier should be available to play against Southampton this weekend.
Former FIFA and Premier League official Hackett remains unhappy with Kevin Friend’s decision to send Jimenez off and has suggested the use of an orange card and a change of stance by FIFA.
“At the elite level, there are times when referees can manage situations and I think this is one where he could have managed it,” Hackett told MOT Leeds News.
“Ultimately, my worry is that because there’s no appeal on a yellow card – which is strictly enforced within FIFA – it means that referees sometimes, instead of giving a straight red and allowing an appeal, they give a double yellow as an insurance as it stops the possibility of an appeal.
“That’s what they do.
“I’ve always had a view that if you’re going to give a second yellow, it should be an orange card.
“I hate a player getting sent off for two yellows where they’re both technical offences. A player could be doing his job and just by a slight mistiming, receives a yellow.
“In the years when they didn’t have red and yellow cards, there were better management processes within referees’ remits.”
In other Leeds United news, the Whites can finally get rid of this “stinking” 29-year-old in the summer.