Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett didn’t hold back in his assessment of the officiating in Liverpool’s recent match against Leeds United. According to Hackett, mistakes by referee Chris Kavanagh and the VAR team played a decisive role in how the game unfolded — and not in Liverpool’s favour.
Hackett argued that a key moment early in the contest should have resulted in a penalty for Liverpool, claiming the officials failed to spot what he saw as a clear holding foul in the box. Instead, the decision stood, and Liverpool were left frustrated that a major opportunity to take control of the match was missed.
In blunt terms, the ex-official described the performance of both the on-field referee and VAR as “shocking,” adding that such oversights are damaging not just to the result but to confidence in the sport’s decision-makers. His comments echo a growing debate about the consistency and quality of officiating in Premier League games.
Hackett’s strong language reflects broader criticism from former referees and analysts who believe that mistakes — particularly in big matches — undermine trust in refereeing standards. Whether the sport’s governing bodies will respond to this kind of scrutiny remains to be seen.
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