Keith Hackett: Chris Kavanagh too weak, Leeds United star Raphinha should also have seen red v Arsenal
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 has insisted that Leeds United star Raphinha should also have been sent off in the 2-1 defeat against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon [08 May].
The ex-FIFA official branded Chris Kavanagh as weak and having a lack of courage, as he only booked the Brazilian in the aftermath of Luke Ayling’s dismissal.
Raphinha protested aggressively and got himself booked, but that didn’t stop the winger from continuing his protests before being dragged away by teammates.
“This referee is showing signs of weakness and lack of courage,” he exclusively told MOT Leeds News.
“I think that when a player takes the approach that Raphinha has taken, I have no convictions, if I was in the middle and I was the referee, he would have gone.
“I think he’s a lucky boy that he’s come across a weak referee, who wants to keep him on, rather than a referee who wants to apply the laws of the game, because this guy was guilty of not just dissent, if you like, verbally and physically, by that I mean he’s in the referee’s zone.
“He’s not letting it go.”
Embarrassing.
We all want to see passion from our players, but on the pitch when the game is ongoing where they can actually make a positive difference.
Raphinha has endured a shocking couple of months and doesn’t look interested in the slightest when he is on the ball and even out of possession – something that saw him subbed off after an hour at Arsenal.
It was all leading to another booking for the Brazilian before he was dragged away, and we would have been raging if he talked himself into a sending off, and more importantly a suspension.
We need Raphinha back at this best, and he needs to channel that aggression into his performance on Wednesday evening against Chelsea in another huge game.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has shared what Luke Ayling did in the dressing room after the defeat at Arsenal