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Keith Hackett
Mon 9 June 2025 17:21, UK
FIFA are “reluctant“ to introduce retrospective punishments despite James Tarkowski’s “red card” foul in the clash between Everton and Liverpool, according to Keith Hackett.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the football organisation want not to “re-referee”, even if controversial moments are missed by officials.
Hackett was adamant that Tarkowski should have been sent off against Liverpool during a 1-0 win for the Reds back in April, with VAR happy with Samuel Barrott’s awarding of a yellow card.
Football fans across the Premier League were outraged by the decision, with the PGMOL later admitting that an on-pitch review should have been advised, and Tarkowski likely should have been sent off.
🗣️ "That's a potential leg breaker"
Gary Neville believes James Tarkowski was 'very lucky' to escape red for this challenge on Alexis Mac Allister 😳 pic.twitter.com/Di28mHouq2
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 2, 2025
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James Tarkowski avoids sending-off against Liverpool
VAR has been under massive scrutiny since its arrival in the Premier League, with Bobby Madley now likely in trouble with PGMOL chief Howard Webb after slamming the technology publicly.
Tarkowski staying on the pitch at Anfield is just one of several incidents that flew under the radar or did not earn the right punishment. Yet, Hackett does not predict any rule changes in the foreseeable future.
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Joelinton avoided a late red card after pulling Bournemouth‘s Neto by the neck, though Man United’s Matheus Cunha did face retrospective action following his clash with one of Ipswich Town’s staff members this season.
While some fans have called for retrospective action to occur, even after officials decided on a punishment at the time, the incidents also call for better use of VAR and even better refereeing.
BREAKING: Matheus Cunha has been charged with misconduct following the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich Town 🚨 pic.twitter.com/k56pO3ZQId
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FIFA unlikely to bring in retrospective bans after refereeing decisions
“FIFA are reluctant to have re-refereeing of situations. I think this is why they are reluctant to use VAR in that role. If they say on the day, ‘this challenge on Mac Allister is a red card’, they’d bring over the referee.
Keith Hackett
Keith Hackett is not expecting any rule changes soon.
“It wasn’t just the fault of the referee, but also VAR on the day. VAR has got to get much better. When you see such a clear incident, such as the one in the Merseyside derby, which didn’t invoke a red card, that’s just poor officiating.
“It is unlikely in the foreseeable future, due to the reluctance from lawmakers around retrospective action, that it will be brought in. I’d like VAR to bring in detection and punishment for acts of simulation.”
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