Kai Havertz avoided a red card for an ill-advised challenge on Leslie Ogochukwu in the 1-0 win over Burnley, but Arsenal were told it was the wrong decision.
Kai Havertz avoids a red card following a cheap challenge on Leslie Ugochukwu (Image: Sky Sports)
Arsenal have been told by former Premier League referee Mark Halsey that Kai Havertz should be sent off for his violent lunge on Burnley’s Leslie Ugochukwu.
The Gunners moved one step closer to their first league title in 22 years on Monday night as Havertz scored the winning goal from a corner kick from Bukayo Saka to secure a narrow 1-0 win over relegated Burnley. But the German star went from hero to near-zero in the second half after a poor challenge on Ogochukwu.
Havertz was shown a yellow card by referee Paul Tierney, but VAR did not intervene to recommend an on-field review, a decision that left fans on social media perplexed.
Halsey also agreed that Havertz was lucky to avoid a red point, telling The Sun:
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“Now, if you look at fouls and misconduct under Law 12, a careless challenge is a free-kick and nothing else. A reckless challenge is a free-kick and a yellow card. And a challenge that endangers the safety of a player with excessive force is a red card.”
“Paul Tierney has now recognized that this challenge by Havertz on a Burnley player was reckless and has given Havertz a yellow card.
“Now, if you look at this challenge, it’s a poor challenge. He lunges and catches a Burnley player high in the back of the calf. Any challenge that endangers the safety of a player, from the front, from the side, from behind, one or two feet, should qualify as a red card.”
Havertz scored Arsenal’s winning goal early in the match (Image: Getty Images)
Halsey went on to admit that he was stunned that VAR did not intervene to advise Tierney to review the decision, and admitted that similar discrepancies in decisions would need to be addressed in the future.
He said: “I was very surprised that VAR did not recommend that Paul Tierney reconsider the challenge, because for me it met the criteria for an offense under section 12 of the Act.”
“And this season we’ve seen players sent off for such challenges many times.
“Once again, there is more inconsistency when it comes to challenges, so something needs to happen in terms of refereeing consistency for challenges in the area, handballs and penalty incidents.
“Hopefully they can leave in the summer and work on this issue.”
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