Former Premier League official Keith Hackett believes Howard Webb should speak with referee Andrew Kitchen after Aaron Wan-Bissaka escaped a red card in Manchester United's 1-1 draw with West Ham
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Matheus Cunha
Calls for Howard Webb to step in after Man United refereeing controversy
View 2 Images
Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) boss Howard Webb has been urged to speak with with referee Andrew Kitchen following Aaron Wan-Bissaka's controversial escape from a red card during Manchester United's draw with West Ham. The ex-United full-back remarkably avoided dismissal for a reckless sliding tackle on Patrick Dorgu despite having already been cautioned mere moments before.
The Hammers drew level between those two Wan-Bissaka incidents when Soungoutou Magassa converted the rebound from Jarrod Bowen's effort that had been hooked off the line. Diogo Dalot had given United the lead earlier in the second period.
United pressed for a decisive goal but couldn't breach Alphonse Areola's defences again, meaning they had to make do with a point. Had Wan-Bissaka been given his marching orders, the outcome could have been vastly different, with former Premier League official Keith Hackett left baffled by the decision.
He has since proposed that Webb should be conducting debriefs with officials to comprehend their thinking. Hackett, speaking to Football Insider on The Final Whistle, said: "I was just fooled by it.
"Watching it, I was saying, 'You're off, mate. You're going to have an early Christmas present,' but nothing happened. The second yellow was worse than the first, and the second yellow was more like orange.
"On its own, I could have had it sit as a red. This was absolute nonsense. When we have situations like this, it's important for Howard Webb to talk to the referees."
"He should say, 'Talk me through this situation.' Why didn't you issue a yellow card? What have you seen that negates a yellow card?". Before that moment, Kitchen had delivered a strong performance in the middle, with Hackett eager to praise the 29-year-old before subsequently offering a damning assessment in the immediate wake of the incident.
He said: "Whilst I think that Andrew Kitchen had a very good game, I would like him to review the two Wan-Bissaka challenges, particularly the last one. On a yellow card, you put in a reckless challenge, he should have had a second yellow followed by the red.
"He's a lucky guy. Andrew, you've got to keep focused up until the final whistle."
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Aaron Wan-Bissaka escaped a red card vs Man United(Image: SmartFrame/Pro Sports Images)
View 2 Images
After his fairly prominent mistake, Kitchen wasn't chosen to take charge of a Premier League fixture in game-week 15, nor did he oversee any Championship matches.
United are in action again on Monday night as they take on winless Wolves and Ruben Amorim has insisted his side must remain concentrated for the challenge ahead. He remarked: "Everything can happen, and that will change.
"There is no team in the Premier League history that didn't win one game. So, it can be any game. So, we need to try to improve, to rest the players, work really well, and prepare a tough match because, with us, it's always a tough match."
United welcome Bournemouth the following week before travelling to Aston Villa ahead of Christmas. Before 2026 begins, United host Newcastle United and Wolves at Old Trafford.
Content Image
Content Image