Keith Hackett stunned by Raphinha incident this week
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 been left stunned by an incident including Leeds United star Raphinha against Newcastle this week.
An image has been circling the media ever since of the Brazilian almost pulling the shorts off his fellow countryman Joelinton.
Raphinha wasn’t booked, and Hackett admitted that was “amazing” and that Mike Dean can’t have seen the severity of the incident.
Speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, Hackett said, “Wow.
“Amazing, that is a yellow card offence. The question here is has Mike Dean seen it? If he’d seen it, then clearly that’s a foul and a yellow card.
“I’m assuming it’s not a denial. If it’s a yellow card, VAR doesn’t come in on those decisions.”
No complaints.
Although this may be the clearest yellow card we have ever seen, there are never no complaints when one of your own players escapes caution.
Having said that, the consistency and officiating this year in the Premier League appears to be getting worst once again.
Last season, everyone was left fuming with VAR and the tight calls it consistently got wrong, but now that responsibility has been placed on the officials again.
Dean is never far from the centre of attention, and he consistently got decisions wrong last week, and that can’t be the case.
Whereas this one was wrong but benefitted us, plenty of other decisions went the other way – such as the Dan James penalty incident.
In other Leeds United news, ‘Huge problem’ – Sky Sports pundit shares major Whites worry live on Monday