Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has held no punches in his response to Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi avoiding a red card during the Cherries' opening day 4-2 defeat against Liverpool in the Premier League. The Friday night clash was one full of incidents, with the alleged racist abuse of Antoine Semenyo naturally making the top headlines.
Prior to that, there was a controversial in-game moment that left many, including co-commentator Jamie Carragher, baffled as Senesi avoided punishment despite what appeared to be a blatant handball to prevent Hugo Ekitike running through on goal. And now, Hackett, who is also the ex-PGMOL chief, has shared his thoughts.
Hackett Slams Senesi Red Card Decision
With Liverpool looking to break and Senesi the last Bournemouth defender, the Argentine miscontrolled the ball and, to prevent Ekitike getting in behind, seemed to swat at the ball with his hand, with referee Anthony Taylor playing on. The incident was checked by VAR, but the Premier League Match Centre X account confirmed that "the action [was] deemed not to be a clear handball offence nor denial of a goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO), due to the distance from goal."
On commentary, Carragher claimed that what he had heard from Stockley Park was a slightly different version of events, as he said: "We can hear what the VAR are saying and they are saying it’s come off his leg and it’s hit his hand and he can’t do anything about it. It's the second movement. It’s not. He realises he’s got a massive problem and he puts his arm towards the ball. How can the VAR say that? What I’ve just heard from the VAR did not happen."
The former Liverpool defender continued his criticism of the decision post-match, which was subsequently followed by Hackett's review of the incident, as he told Football Insider:
"(It is) amazing with the officials on duty they get the handball so wrong and then…listening to Jamie Carragher it is evident that PGMOL have changed their view on the incident. A no handball becomes a handball offence but not DOGSO? Pathetic, because you look at the Liverpool player and he has a good probability to control the ball, run towards goal because there are no covering defenders. It’s a nailed in DOGSO offence.
"It is time for complete transparency in how VAR operates. We should all have the opportunity to listen in to the VAR communications with match officials."
All in all, there were 28 VAR errors throughout the 2024/25 season, and hopes that this may be reduced this term have certainly taken a hit with the first mistake coming less than 15 minutes into the first game of the season