Former referee Keith Hackett has shared insight on the controversy surrounding the second goal scored by Georginio Rutter during Brighton’s 4-0 demolition of Southampton.
Aribo, the Nigerian midfielder, played the entirety of the game as a center-back. Rutter outmuscled Aribo just outside Southampton’s box and played a quick one-two with Minteh before rolling past Ramsdale.
Speaking to Football Insider, the former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official believes the goal should have been disallowed for a foul by Georginio Rutter on Joe Aribo.
“First of all I think it was a foul so I go along with the fact that that is a foul, the game at that point should be stopped.”
Hackett questioned the decision of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) not to intervene. “What is interesting here is two things. First of all, three or more players surrounding the referee – as in the Man United game – is a report by the referee to the authorities.”
“And the authorities can in fact fine the club for failing to control their players. That’s the first thing. The second point is it is a foul in my opinion, so why when the goal was scored didn’t VAR intervene?”
“Those are the questions that I ask. Safe refereeing is something that I’ve discussed in the past with referees, and that is it’s relatively easy.”
“You don’t want to wipe out goals but in a situation where I think there has been contact and the player has gone down and it is a foul, it’s a careless challenge, that free kick should have been awarded.”
