Keith Hackett shares verdict on Lucas Digne controversy for Everton v Norwich
We’re delighted to welcome former Premier League referee Keith Hackett as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Everton.
Keith Hackett has insisted that Everton defender Lucas Digne should have been sent off against Norwich City.
Already booked, the Frenchman was deemed to deliberately block a cross with his hand but escaped caution.
Daniel Farke questioned it as the footage was shown on Match of the Day, and Hackett agrees that there was no excuse for Digne not to be sent off.
Speaking exclusively to Goodison News, Hackett said, “Absolutely.
“I think the manager has got a point. Again, I would add that not every handball is a yellow-card offence, but what he has done there is deliberately put his hand out to stop the cross.
“It’s outside the box, so that’s a yellow card every day. He awarded the free-kick so there’s no excuse.“
Lucky?
Given that the free kick was awarded by the officials, it does appear strange that Digne wasn’t given a second yellow card.
He was deemed to have handled it deliberately, which has always been a yellow card in football, regardless of it you already have one.
Rafa Benitez and the Toffees will not care one bit, and will count themselves blessed to have their star defender available against Manchester United.
With no real rotation option at left-back, going to Old Trafford without Digne could have seen things unravel very quickly.
Thankfully, that isn’t the case and we have certainly got away with one.
In other Everton news, ‘Delightful’ – Micah Richards blown away by one Toffees star v Norwich live on MOTD
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