Keith Hackett wants Chris Kavanagh removed from duty after West Ham controversy
We’re delighted to welcome former Premier League referee Keith Hackett as our exclusive West Ham United columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium.
Keith Hackett has blasted Chris Kavanagh and Peter Bankes after West Ham defender Fabian Balbuena saw a red card rescinded on Tuesday.
Balbuena, 29, was shown a straight red card after Kavanagh used the pitchside monitor to review an incident involving Ben Chilwell.
West Ham’s centre-back clearly kicked the ball but Chilwell stuck his foot in late and got caught by the Paraguayan’s follow-through.
Neither Kavanagh nor Bankes saw it as something that just happens on a football pitch and instead Balbuena was sent off.
However, that red card has been rescinded now and former Premier League referee Hackett is absolutely furious with the decision that led up to the red card.
“The disgrace frankly is that this player was sent off in the first place,” Hackett told West Ham Zone.
“Referee Kavanagh and VAR Peter Bankes are both FIFA International referees.
“It took me one look to determine that this was not a red card.
“I suggest that both these officials should be taken off their games at the weekend.
“They need to be made accountable for their error which impacted on the game.”
It’s baffling that neither Kavanagh or Bankes saw the challenge for what it was – a complete and total accident.
Yet again, the referees in English football are painting VAR in a bad light.
Is VAR really the issue, or is it the idiots who are using it?
Clearly, Kavanagh isn’t remotely close enough to being fit to apply the use of VAR in a match so taking him off duty and sending him to a course to re-learn protocol should be the right approach.
However, the PGMOL won’t do that. They never see their referees as doing anything wrong.
It’s an absolute farce that is wrecking our game and in this case, could be wrecking our hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.
In other West Ham news, this Irons ace is now a major doubt to play against Burnley.
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