Sunderland were beaten 3-0 by Arsenal on Saturday afternoon.
Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has insisted that Sunderland defender Reinildo Mandava should have been shown a late red card during his side’s 3-0 defeat to Arsenal at the weekend.
The Black Cats put in an admirable display against the Premier League leaders, but ultimately came unstuck as Mikel Arteta’s men hammered home their title credentials with a 17th victory of the campaign. A first-half strike from Martin Zubimendi was backed up by a Viktor Gyokeres brace after the interval to seal all three points, but a desperate lunge from Reinildo in build-up to the third goal - unpunished by referee Sam Barrott at the time - has since come in for heightened scrutiny.
Stretching in an attempt to block the Arsenal striker’s shot, the full-back seemingly caught his opponent high on the thigh, and speaking to online outlet Football Insider, Hackett has claimed that the Sunderland man should have been given his marching orders.
What has Keith Hackett said about Sunderland defender Reinildo Mandava?
The ex-FIFA official said: “Here is a challenge worthy of a red card. This is no different from the ball being in the back of the net, and the number nine thumps an opponent. He’s come in late; he’s come in high. He could pull out of it. There’s malice in it; there’s serious foul play, and he should have walked. This is about basic refereeing. These clips, when they go unpunished, should be reviewed and discussed. How did he get away with it? It’s the question we’re all asking.”
Elsewhere, Sky Sports pundit Jay Bothroyd was inclined to agree with Hackett, stating: "I think that's a red card. That's dangerous. He's lunging, out of control, high. I think the fact that Gyokeres scored the goal is why it hasn't been looked at. If he missed that, I think he would then get a red card."
For his part, however, former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher was not so sure, arguing that the actual contact was not as severe as some of the still images suggested. "I don't think it's a red card," he said. “It looks bad there but he doesn't catch him at that point. I think it's a yellow card [if Gyokeres doesn't score]."
What else did Keith Hackett say about Sunderland?
Hackett has also suggested that Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey may have been lucky to avoid a red card in North London after an unsightly challenge on Arsenal star Zubimendi, with Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero dismissed for a similar incident during his side’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester United earlier in the day.
The former ref said: “I see no difference in this challenge on that of Cristian Romero earlier today that should have equally received a red card for serious foul play. This highlights the inconsistency of delivering an appropriate sanction from the PGMOL officials.”
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Again, however, Gallagher disagreed, telling Sky Sports News’ Ref Watch: "Brobbey's knee is bent so there's not a massive impact and he lands on Zubimendi's foot. He doesn't follow through and he's actually pulling out."
Bothroyd, meanwhile, added: "Brobbey can see Zubimendi coming. He's trying to get his body in. It's not a straight leg. He has caught him, but it's brushed off his shin. That's not a red card, it's not intentional."
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