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Ex-Premier League referee: Thiago Silva should get extended ban as 'controversial' Chelsea footage analysed
Thiago Silva should have been sent off as Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 2-1 on Saturday (1 October), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee insisted Silva had denied a goalscoring opportunity at Selhurst Park.
As shown on the BBC’s Match of the Day programme, the 38-year-old was shown a yellow card for a handball when he failed to challenge Jordan Ayew.
He was the last defender but was only cautioned as referee Anthony Taylor thought it was not a clear goalscoring opportunity.
A red card would have seen him banned when managerless Wolves visit Stamford Bridge at the weekend (8 October).
“I think it was the most controversial decision and it’s created a lot of debate,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider‘s Connor Whitley.
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“Let me tell you the process in refereeing. When a foul like that takes place, when you are considering the denial of a goalscoring opportunity, take away the player that has committed the offence.
“As you are looking, he’s not there. If he’s not there and hadn’t committed the offence would the player have had a run at goal? The answer is yes.
“Would the defenders have come in and challenged before the player had the opportunity to get a shot away? That’s all it is, it’s not about it being an obvious goal, it’s an opportunity.
“In my view, it was sufficient to give a red card. A lot of referees disagree with that.
“In my opinion, the defenders are not going to get in a challenge because the player is quick.
“The referee has said there’s doubt and VAR is not going to get involved because it’s a judgement call, it’s subjective.
“You can understand why Taylor’s made that call but I disagree with it because I go through that process of taking the player away.”
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