Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett wants FIFA to change a rule after Leeds United's Illan Meslier had to be taken off in their 3-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. The 22-year-old limped off following a collision with Raul Jimenez.
It was a challenge that saw the Mexican given a second yellow card after previously being booked for a late tackle on Mateusz Klich. There was plenty of discussion on social media about whether Jimenez deserved to be sent off, with Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville agreeing that it was the wrong decision.
With Wolves 2-0 up at the time, Leeds took advantage of being a man up as they came from behind to win the game. Jack Harrison, Luke Ayling and Rodrigo all struck as the Whites moved seven points clear of the relegation zone.
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The Whites were struggling before Jimenez was dismissed and it was the boost they needed to claim all three points. But Hackett has admitted that FIFA must introduce a rule that you can appeal a yellow card and introduce an orange card instead.
"At the elite level, there are times when referees can manage situations and I think this is one where he could have managed it," Hackett told MOT Leeds News.
"Ultimately, my worry is that because there’s no appeal on a yellow card – which is strictly enforced within FIFA – it means that referees sometimes, instead of giving a straight red and allowing an appeal, they give a double yellow as an insurance as it stops the possibility of an appeal.
"That’s what they do. I’ve always had a view that if you’re going to give a second yellow, it should be an orange card.
"I hate a player getting sent off for two yellows where they’re both technical offences. A player could be doing his job and just by a slight mistiming, receives a yellow.
"In the years when they didn’t have red and yellow cards, there were better management processes within referees’ remits."
