A former PL referee believes Arsenal defender should have seen a red card after his harsh tackle against Sunderland.
Former referee makes big call on Arsenal defender
The Arsenal and Sunderland clash ended in a draw. The first half’s rough play of Jurrien Timber has become the main issue. The Dutch defender had suffered a head injury earlier in the game. He attempted to shield the ball but caught Sunderland’s Enzo Le Fee late. Referee Craig Pawson completely ignored what happened, the VAR team remained silent, and thus the match went on.
The fans present in the stadium were really surprised by the incident. The Black Cats’ players along with the coaches started a very loud protest against the refereeing.
Keith Hackett, who had previously served as the head referee in the PL, expressed his views on the matter. He stated that Timber’s tackle was consistent with the red card rule. Speaking to Football Insider, he expressed his view that the impact suffered by the defender was both aggressive and foolhardy. That brought him to think that VAR should have been involved.
Debate on officiating standards
Hackett’s remarks have, once more, highlighted the issue of refereeing consistency in English football. A lot of fans and analysts think that this particular incident did not attract attention.
Timber’s aggression might be a sign of his competitive nature. But, the fans insist that the referees’ role should be to enforce a strict policy against unsafe behaviour towards players. This incident has brought up the question of VAR usage once again. That is alongside the matter of the officials’ issues. That is still a topic that they have to deal with on a weekly basis as their calls are constantly being scrutinized.
Author’s opinion:
Timber was fortunate enough not to be given a red card, and Hackett’s opinion is justified. The officials must ensure that in games where even one decision can completely change the outcome, they will be fair and consistent.
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