PGMOL Under Fire After Brobbey Escapes Red Card in Arsenal Victory
Former FIFA referee and PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has voiced his frustration with officiating standards following a controversial decision in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Sunderland. Despite a convincing result for the Gunners, Hackett argues that Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey was incredibly lucky to stay on the pitch after a dangerous challenge on Martin Zubimendi.
A Tale of Two Tackles
The controversy stems from what Hackett describes as a glaring lack of consistency from PGMOL officials. Earlier on the same Saturday, Tottenham’s Cristian Romero was sent off for a studs-up challenge on Casemiro during Spurs’ loss to Manchester United—a decision Hackett fully supported.
However, a nearly identical incident occurred during the Arsenal match:
- The Incident: In the 40th minute, Brobbey lunged into a 50/50 challenge with Zubimendi, catching the midfielder’s shin with the top of his boot.
- The Ruling: Referee Sam Barrott opted for a yellow card, and VAR chose not to intervene.
- The Comparison: Hackett insists there was “no difference” between Brobbey’s foul and Romero’s, labeling both as “serious foul play” that warranted immediate dismissal.
Impact on the Match
While the non-call didn’t prevent Arsenal from securing three points, it has reignited the debate over refereeing uniformity in the Premier League. Arsenal eventually cruised to victory thanks to:
- Martin Zubimendi: Scored the opener before being the victim of Brobbey’s lunge.
- Viktor Gyokeres: Netted a second-half double to seal the win.
The result puts Mikel Arteta’s side nine points clear of Manchester City at the summit of the table, but the officiating remains the primary talking point for analysts like Hackett.
Hackett’s Verdict on Inconsistency
Speaking to Football Insider, Hackett didn’t hold back in his assessment of the PGMOL’s performance:
“This highlights the inconsistency of delivering an appropriate sanction from the PGMOL officials,” Hackett stated, expressing disbelief that two similar offenses on the same day resulted in two different outcomes.
Despite Brobbey’s reputation as a physical, “heart-on-his-sleeve” striker, Hackett believes the Dutchman clearly overstepped the mark at the Emirates, and the failure to send him off serves as a troubling example of fluctuating standards in the league.
