Keith Hackett: Frank Lampard miles out of order and may face Everton suspension after FA charge
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 boss Frank Lampard was “miles out of order” for questioning the match officials after his FA charge this month.
The ex-FA official admitted that the Toffees manager could be facing a suspension should he be found guilty of tarnishing the game, not for the first time this season.
Lampard was charged and will give his observations following the 2-0 defeat at Liverpool, with fortunes changing dramatically since at Goodison Park with two big wins.
“I think that they will have a ladder of interventions,” he exclusively told Goodison News.
“It may be fine initially, but then suspension. It depends where he sits on that ladder, has he offended before? Sometimes part of that process is, if this is a first-time offence, he might be asked for his observations.
“He’s been charged, so that means he has to submit his observations and remember that this goes through an independent panel. So, I await the outcome, I think the FA and the Premier League have done everything possible to ensure that there are lines of communication to vent those concerns.
“Going public actually tarnishes the game and to actually question the integrity of the referee is miles out of order.”
Surely not.
The FA would be facing serious scrutiny if they were to suspend Lampard.
Officiating in the Premier League has been nothing short of shocking this season, and the PGMOL have had to apologise themselves to the Toffees after admitting errors.
How can Lampard then question another decision and get punished? This is something that has to be called out if there is to be a change in how referees perform.
A charge is expected, that is the normality nowadays, but a suspension would be way too far.
In other Everton news, Simon Jordan has shared a potential catastrophe waiting to happen at Goodison Park this season
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