Former referee Keith Hackett says that Emil Krafth should have been facing a one-match ban for two fouls on Saturday against Arsenal.
Newcastle United ’s right-back Krafth was under pressure throughout the Magpies’ 2-0 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday.
Proving particularly troublesome for the Sweden international was Arsenal’s left-back Nuno Tavares, who Krafth ended up fouling, resulting in him being shown a yellow card by the referee Stuart Atwell.
Minutes later Krafth then fouled Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe, but he was not shown the second yellow card which would have resulted in him being sent off and banned for one match.
The former Premier League referee and referees' assessor Keith Hackett, speaking to Football Insider, said: “I think the referee dodged a bullet. I think Krafth was silly.
“When you’ve got a player that’s on a yellow card, this is always the danger.
“Atwell probably thought that was not sufficient enough for the yellow card to come out. He was looking for an orange card. I understand that.
“If you ask me about the law, was it a foul? Yes. Was it his second yellow card offence? Yes. Was it reckless? Yes. He could have gone.
“I was surprised. If I was the assessor at this game - they don’t have them anymore - I would be asking for them to talk me through that incident. This was a refereeing error.”
Newcastle are already without two of their usual backline due to suspensions, with Jamaal Lascelles and Matt Ritchie both banned for tonight’s match due to picking up too many yellow cards this season.
