Ex-PGMOL Chief Casts Verdict on Ref’s Decision Man Utd Fans Are Calling ‘Corruption’ vs West Ham
Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United, yet again, put in another lifeless performance as they drew 1-1 against a lowly West Ham United at Old Trafford on Thursday evening. Although they failed to capitalise on Liverpool drawing with Sunderland and Chelsea losing to Leeds United, there is good reason to suggest that West Ham should’ve been reduced to ten men. Ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has now provided his verdict.
United’s size and magnitude doesn’t guarantee them a spot in Europe next season (see 2025/26 as the perfect example) and leaving Old Trafford with just one point is not ideal for their prospects. Diogo Dalot, who turned in coolly from close range after Casemiro’s audacious shot landed at his feet in the West Ham penalty area, opened the scoring.
Pegged back late as central midfielder Soungoutou Magassa broke his West Ham duck in the 83rd minute, the Frenchman was left unmarked in the box and the ball trickled towards him after Noussair Mazraoui’s goal line clearance. A share of the spoils sees Amorim’s men wallow in eighth in the table while West Ham are two points from safety in 18th.
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Hackett Provides Verdict on Potential Wan-Bissaka Red Card vs Man Utd
Things would’ve been made simpler if West Ham had a numerical disadvantage. Four minutes after Magassa’s equaliser, 28-year-old Wan-Bissaka – who played 190 times for the Old Trafford club before moving on in the summer of 2024 – flew into the back on Patrick Dorgu in the 87th minute. Despite already being on a caution, it was a reckless challenge.
He escaped getting another yellow card, which would have resulted in an early bath, and fans were seething at Kitchen’s decision. “Why was Wan Bissaka not shown a second yellow card there? That was serious corruption by the referee,” one wrote. Hackett was inclined to agree with the fan and, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, he said:
“Whilst I think that Andrew Kitchen had a very good game, I would like him to review the two Wan-Bissaka challenges, particularly the last one. On a yellow card, you put in a reckless challenge, he should have had a second yellow followed by the red.”
“He’s a lucky guy. Andrew, you’ve got to keep focused up until the final whistle,” Hackett concluded, speaking from his own experiences as a FIFA referee and former chief of Professional Game Match Official Limited (PGMOL).
The Daily Mail’s chief sports reporter, Mike Keegan, took to X (formerly) to applaud Kitchen’s display as the man in the middle. “Best performance at Old Trafford tonight? Andrew Kitchen, the referee. Aged 29 and reffing his fifth Premier League match. Got little wrong.” Displeased, the Old Trafford faithful pointed directly towards Wan-Bissaka’s cynical tackle.
Usually a master at tackling, Wan-Bissaka misjudged this one – and, really, the DR Congo international should’ve been shown his marching orders with just a few minutes left on the clock. Incredibly, during his Old Trafford stint between 2019 and 2024, he was sent off just one time.
Man Utd’s 25/26 Season Prospects Under Amorim
Irrespective of whether supporters are still backing him or not, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his staff have made it abundantly clear that Amorim’s position is – for now, at least – safe and secure. That’s despite the Portuguese head coach guiding them to a Premier League-worst finish of 15th last season and losing the Europa League final compiled the misery.
On Thursday evening, Amorim’s United were hoping to pick up three points and climb to fifth in the Premier League table – but the likelihood is that they’ll have to settle for less come May when all 38 matches have been played.
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With no European football to contend with and by virtue of being knocked out of the League Cup by fourth-tier outfit Grimsby Town, the Red Devils have a far less busy schedule compared to their opponents, but drawing against West Ham just proved they are unable to pounce on opportunities. Up next, they face winless Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday night.
