Ex-refs chief baffled by Saka incident which should have got Arsenal star cautioned vs PSG

Bukayo Saka should have been punished in a “surprise” incident during Arsenal‘s eventual Champions League defeat to PSG.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that the Gunners’ star was fortunate not to be booked for time-wasting on Saturday, 30 May.

The 24-year-old would go on to be booked in the 54th minute by referee Daniel Siebert, but the England international may have already had a yellow card to his name had the referee followed the exact law.

Arsenal fans were up in arms against PSG as the half-time whistle sounded. Saka was preparing to take a corner, a dangerous set-piece for the Gunners, but with the winger taking too long, the half was ended.

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Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett said that the referee made the “wrong” point when blowing for half-time. He explained that, with the ball not in play, there would have been seconds remaining on the clock.

“Saka and the team have been told to get on with the game. The ball at this stage is out of play, and if the referee stopped his watch at that time, there must be seconds left,” Hackett said.

“What I say to referees when I’m coaching them is, ‘no surprises’. This fulfils that element of a surprise. I think when we look at how the game is timed, look how short-changed fans are getting.

“I feel that the referee was trying to make a point, but I think the wrong one. The surprise was that he blew the whistle at the corner kick when the player was preparing to take it.

“If he felt that Saka was delaying, he had the option of cautioning Saka and then allowing the corner kick.”

It was via the penalty spot that PSG were given a route back into the game, with Kvicha Kvaratskhelia being brought down by Cristhian Mosquera, and Ousmane Dembele finding the back of the net.

There were huge calls for an Arsenal penalty in the late stages, with Noni Madueke being taken down by Nuno Mendes, only for those desperate shouts to fall on deaf ears at the Puskas Arena.

Hackett is absolutely certain that Mikel Arteta’s side deserved the spot-kick, which would have stopped the game from reaching extra time and penalties, and the Ligue 1 champions prevailing.

It was a game of fine margins, and one that eventually went against the Gunners, who managed just one shot on target throughout the entire 120 minutes.

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