Diogo Dalot and Anthony Taylor side-by-side
Credit: Imago
Harri Burton
Mon 19 January 2026 15:00, UK
Diogo Dalot’s challenge on Jeremy Doku was one of the easiest decisions for Anthony Taylor to make in the Manchester derby.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that Dalot should have given a straight red during Man United‘s win over Man City at Old Trafford.
Craig Pawson should be blamed for letting the referee down on Saturday, 17 January, with the VAR official failing to intervene correctly just 11 minutes into proceedings.
After keeping all 11 men on the pitch, the Red Devils took the lead through Bryan Mbeumo before Patrick Dorgu added a second, and Mason Mount saw a third chalked off for offside at the death.
It could have all been very difficult in the Manchester derby, though.
Diogo Dalot crunches into studs-up challenge on Jeremy Doku
Taylor made several interesting decisions in the Manchester derby, but it was the explanation of why the Portuguese international had remained on the pitch after his horrible challenge.
The full-back’s contact was deemed to be “glancing” and “not with excessive force,” revealing why the referee chose not to send Dalot off. Unsurprisingly, football fans from all over erupted at the reasoning.
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The Premier League Match Centre often creates more questions than it answers on a normal matchday, and this is very much the same after Man United’s No.2 was not given his marching orders.
#MUNMCI – 10’
The referee’s call of yellow card to Dalot for a reckless challenge was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the contact deemed to be glancing and not with excessive force.
— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) January 17, 2026
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Hackett has been extremely critical of studs-up challenges this season, with big names escaping punishment in the top tier of English football, but the former head of the PGMOL is furious with the wording above.
Keith Hackett rips into Premier League announcement
Hackett, exclusively speaking to Football Insider on The Final Whistle, said: “When you look at the incident at full speed, it’s not an easy one for Taylor to judge. But when you’re sat at home, watching replays, which is what VAR have, there’s no way it’s not a red card.
“What amazed me is a statement from a Premier League spokesperson, because it’s totally inaccurate, and it doesn’t apply the law of the game.
“Whoever you are, you need to read IFAB laws and study the game. If you’re going to talk about refereeing issues, be accurate in law. Disaster.”