Sky Sports pundit Shay Given delivers verdict on Granit Xhaka challenge v Leeds United
Shay Given claims that Granit Xhaka deserved a red card for stamping on Raphinha in the second half of Leeds United v Arsenal on Saturday.
The Whites ended up losing the game 4-1, but the result could have been a lot different had Arsenal been down to ten men.
The officials did not deem it worthy enough to give him his marching orders, and this infuriated Given, who is a Sky Sports pundit.
He said on Premier League Productions on Sunday, “That was disgusting. How can players make such dangerous tackles without repercussions?
“The VAR guy has to tell the ref to go and have a look at his monitor. For me, it’s a straight red.”
Shocking
The refereeing this season appeared to have improved in the first few weeks, but we’re back to the old ways now.
It’s shocking how with so much technology at their disposal and so many eyes watching every decision in slow motion, how they felt it was not worthy of even an inspection.
Leeds are not the only team to be aggrieved by this decision and if all clubs are to be asked, most would say that VAR has been underwhelming this season as well.
Even during the Liverpool v Tottenham game, Harry Kane was not shown a red card and the referee did not even take a second look at it.
His challenge was a leg breaker and certainly endangered the safety of the opposition.
In the same game, Andy Robertson was rightly sent off for a challenge that was not as bad as Kane’s.
Both were reds, but the officials deemed only one worthy of sending off, which is ridiculous.
Something needs to change soon in the Premier League.
In other Leeds United news, Ian Wright savages a Leeds player for what he did in loss v Arsenal