Keith Hackett defends referee's decision to send off Kevin Danso in friendly

Former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett has stated that referee Alex King had no alternative but to issue a red card to Kevin Danso during Tottenham Hotspur's pre-season match against Chelsea. Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett explained that the official could not overlook the laws of the game, even in a friendly fixture.

The Austrian international was brought on at half-time on Saturday, 1 August, but found himself heading back down the tunnel just four minutes later. This incident set the stage for a one-sided second half, with opening goals from Sandro Tonali and Estevao, leading to Roberto De Zerbi's side ultimately securing a 2-1 victory. Despite Danso's foul on Joao Pedro, which denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity, Richarlison managed to score late in the game to clinch the win for Spurs.

While some fans expressed their discontent with the referee's decision during the 49th minute, Hackett came to the official's defence. He stated, "Fans have to realise is that referees have to, even in friendly matches, apply the law correctly and accurately." He further emphasised that there is a common misconception among fans regarding the nature of friendly matches, asserting, "From a refereeing perspective, there are no friendly games."

Hackett elaborated on the criteria for determining a denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity, noting that it is a subjective judgment call made by the referee. He explained, "It's the probability of that player controlling the ball who's heading the direction of play, and then the potential impact of a defender." He acknowledged that while there may be instances where a decision could be overturned based on player positioning, players must adhere to the laws of the game, even in friendlies.

As for Danso's future, it is expected to be a significant topic of discussion throughout the remainder of the summer transfer window, particularly following his red card against Chelsea. With Cristian Romero likely to depart and Micky van de Ven still on holiday, opportunities have arisen for Ben Davies, Jan Paul van Hecke, and Danso. The squad is currently facing a shortage of space, with questions surrounding the futures of several players, including Radu Dragusin and Luka Vuskovic, while it remains uncertain whether Danso will stay as a backup for De Zerbi's side.

Source: Footballinsider247