‘This is pathetic coming from a man seen as a legend of the sport. I know that the refereeing in the EPL has been questionable but the referee made the right call this time. I think Jamie Carragher should get a five match ban for such a behaviour’ – This is according to Former FIFA referee Keith Hackett as slams Liverpool’s legend Jamie Carragher following his furious reaction to the referee decision.
Former FIFA referee Keith Hackett has urged reforms to VAR and the way match officials communicate, following an incident where Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi’s apparent handball went unpunished against Liverpool.
Former FIFA referee Keith Hackett has urged reforms to VAR and the way match officials communicate, following an incident where Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi’s apparent handball went unpunished against Liverpool.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-PGMOL chief said fans should be allowed to hear in-game conversations between referees and VAR after Jamie Carragher claimed the decision was changed from the officials’ original call.
The match at Anfield saw both sides start with high intensity, but controversy struck in the 13th minute. With the score still 0-0, Hugo Ekitike attempted to break past Senesi when the ball bounced up and appeared to brush the defender’s hand, diverting it from the Liverpool forward’s path. Referee Anthony Taylor halted play for a VAR review, but no infringement was given, and the game resumed.
Carragher later criticised the process on Sky Sports, saying he believed the VAR initially gave a different explanation to Taylor before changing their stance. He argued that the decision was made too hastily and suggested the officials had altered their assessment during the review.
Hackett agreed with Carragher’s concerns, stating Senesi should have been sent off for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO). He criticised the inconsistency, calling the decision “pathetic,” and emphasised that the Liverpool player had a clear chance to control the ball and advance toward goal with no defenders covering.
He concluded by calling for “full transparency” in VAR operations, insisting that fans should be able to hear the exchanges between VAR teams and on-field referees in real time.
