TEK HIM OFF
Crystal Palace star Christian Benteke should have been sent off against Arsenal, according to ex-Premier League and FIFA referee Keith Hackett.
Benteke clumped into Gunners ace Bukayo Saka while challenging for an aerial challenge before thrusting his forearm into Mohamed Elneny’s face.
Hackett told Football Insider: “Benteke should have gone.
“He’s got a yellow for that challenge and then he’s put his left arm into the face of his opponent with a sweeping movement.
“There might not be venom in his actions but there was a body check and a left-arm jab. He knows exactly what he’s done. That on its own is a red card, seriously.
“He should have gone for that alone. The first one is important but the second one is the bad one.
“What’s the point in VAR if not for this? They should have said: ‘Anthony [Taylor], come and have a look at this.’
“They are going to the monitor less and less. What’s happened is they have been reminded that they only go to the monitor for clear and obvious errors and mistaken identity.
“But this kind of incident is exactly what VAR’s for”
