Following PSG’s match against Arsenal, former referee Keith Hackett took aim at goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
On Tuesday night, the Gunners and the Parisians played the first leg of their semi-final match at the Emirates Stadium. The French team came out on top, 1-0.
A controversial incident involving goalie Donnarumma overshadowed the game, and Hackett was reacting to that. Near the end of the match, with the Gunners chasing an equalizer, the Italian goalie went down after Ben White’s very light touch on a corner.
Mikel Arteta’s squad was unable to capitalize on any additional offensive opportunities after referee Slavko Vinčić awarded PSG a free kick.
Keith Hackett, the former head of PGMOL, was righteously outraged by Donnarumma’s actions and called them “absolutely disgraceful.”
Speaking with Football Insider, he emphasized the need for the football authorities to implement punishment over simulation acts in the past.
The people whose job it is to keep our wonderful game honest must take notice of this very despicable behavior and ban the goalkeeper immediately.
Even though it was broadcast all around the globe, this game does not represent the sport well. The guiding principles and ethos of our game are discussed in the opening phrases of the rules of the game by the IFAB [International Football Association Board].
To keep these remarks from being sullied, they should take action. Last night, the referee received accolades, but his side did not see the goalkeeper’s action or the decision to penalize Saka for a non-foul, even though the winger had already been sent out for pushing Nuno Mendes. Next week, Arsenal will play the second leg in France, where they will be trying to win.