Keith Hackett has called for a review into the performance of referee Chris Kavanagh following Sunday’s Premier League clash between Arsenal and Chelsea. The Gunners secured a 1-0 victory thanks to Mikel Merino’s first-half header, reducing the gap between themselves and league-leaders Liverpool to 12 points.
However, former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official Hackett has been left dismayed by Kavanagh’s decision-making at the Emirates Stadium - particularly his failure to send off Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana. He told Football Insider: “Reviewing those challenges by Fofana yesterday, you have to say ‘how did he stay on the field of play?’.”
Hackett believes that one of Fofana’s challenges was worthy of a straight red card, while two separate fouls were worth yellows. On Kavanagh’s performance, Hackett added: “Those earlier two challenges that went unpunished by him is a worry, because this is not the standard of officiating that you expect at the highest level.
The standard of officiating in the Premier League has been called into question by fans and pundits alike on numerous occasions this season. Kavanagh was heavily criticised earlier in the 20224-25 campaign for his decision to send off Arsenal’s Declan Rice against Brighton.