Former English Premier League refree, Howard Webb and Keith Hackett have voiced out their opinion concerning Wayne Rooney’s foul and the result of the game against Liverpool.
Webb who was in the centre of the park at the World Cup and Champions League Finals in 2010 said Manchester United’s front man, Wayne Rooney should have been yellow-carded after his tackle on James Milner. “ I think Rooney’s tackle on James Milner for which Michael Oliver gave a foul and no ,more, is one of those that is somewhere between a red and a yellow card. Rooney’s tackle is poor, and he is reckless, but he puts his foot in the direction of the ball and does so with less than the excessive force that would make a sending-off offence”.
Webb added that he believed assistant refree Mick McDonough should have raised his flag before the home side’s leveler, saying: Because he is too far down the touchline, he cannot judge whether Antonio Valencia is just offside before he receives the ball, which he is. In those circumstances, he gives the benefit of doubt to the attacker. He will have known he lost his position at crucial time.”
Former Professional Game Match Officials Board General Manager, Hackett said in the Daily Telegraph, on behalf of you are the ref: “Wayne Rooney was fortunate to escape a caution for a foul on James Milner that was over the top of the ball and potentially very dangerous. Michael did not have the greatest views but should have spotted it”.
Of United’s goal, Hacckett said: “When Michael nd his team look back on the game, there will be three decisions they wil be disappointed with.
“The most serious of them was when assistant refree Mick McDonough failed to notice Antonio Valencia was offside in d build-up to United’s equalizer. He was completely out of position and it was apoor error considering the move was being conducted at walking space.