Keith Hackett responds to Frank Lampard comments after Everton loss v Liverpool
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 hit back at Frank Lampard for his comments after Everton crashed to defeat against Liverpool.
The ex-FIFA official insisted that it isn’t the case that referees won’t give penalties against the Reds when at Anfield.
This comes after Anthony Gordon was firstly booked for diving, and then denied a clear penalty after a foul by Joel Matip.
“I think they always say that,” he exclusively told Goodison News.
“That’s not the reality, the referee is going to give penalty kicks if he believes it. The first one was definitely not a penalty kick, for certain, and the player deserved a yellow, so I support that.
“I think on the second one, I’m suggesting to Frank Lampard that what he needs to do is have a word with his two players, you’re here to play football, not be in the theatre, not playacting.
“Sadly, when players go to the ground easily, the influence on the referee is that he’s going to make certain.”
It looks as though there could be a warning coming the way of Lampard, but that means nothing to him at this stage.
Mike Riley and the PGMOL find themselves at a stage where they need to hand out another apology, why does this keep happening?
Human error can happen, everyone accepts that, but where was VAR? What is the point in having that technology if it doesn’t help?
Officials need to take each incident and challenge at face value, and there cannot be reputations that influence decisions, it isn’t right.
In other Everton news, Simon Jordan has shared a potential catastrophe waiting to happen at Goodison Park this season
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