Ex-Premier League referee gives Arsenal immediate Kai Havertz red card verdict

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Arsenal have been told Kai Havertz SHOULD have been sent off for his wild lunge on Burnley 's Lesley Ugochukwu by the former Premier League referee, Mark Halsey.

The Gunners moved one step closer to a first league title in 22 years with a narrow 1-0 victory over relegated Burnley on Monday night with Havertz heading home the winning goal from a Bukayo Saka corner. But the Germany star almost went from hero to zero in the second half following a poor challenge on Ogochukwu.

Havertz was shown a yellow card by referee, Paul Tierney, but VAR did not intervene to recommend an on-field review - a decision which left fans on social media baffled.

And Halsey is also of the opinion that Havertz was fortunate to avoid seeing red, telling The Sun : “We’ve seen another controversial moment at the Emirates, Arsenal vs Burnley, with a second half challenge by Kai Havertz on Burnley No 8 Ugochukwu.

“Now when we look at Law 12 fouls and misconduct, a careless challenge is a free-kick, nothing else. A reckless challenge is a free-kick and a yellow card. And a challenge that endangers the player’s safety with excessive force is a red card.

“Now, Paul Tierney has recognised this challenge by Havertz on the Burnley player as reckless and issued Havertz with a yellow card.

“Now, when you look at the challenge, it’s a poor challenge. He lunges in, he catches the Burnley player down the back of his calf, high up. A challenge with one or two feet from the front, from the side or from the back that endangers the player’s safety must be sanctioned as a red card.”

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Halsey went on to admit that he was stunned that VAR did not step in to advise Tierney to review the decision and that the inconsistency over similar decisions needs to be addressed moving forward.

He said: “I was very surprised that VAR did not recommend for Paul Tierney to go and look at the challenge again because for me, it met the criteria in Law 12 misconduct.

“And we’ve seen on many occasions this season where players have been sent off for those sort of challenges.

“So once again, we’ve got more inconsistency regarding challenges. So something needs to happen regarding the consistency of the officials with challenges, handballs and penalty incidents in the area.

“Hopefully they can go away in the summer and work on this.”