admin‘Unacceptable’ – Ex-PGMOL boss slams referee over Ricardo Pereira controversy in Leicester City win
Keith Hackett, former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official, stated that Ricardo Pereira would have been sent off if VAR had been in use during Leicester City’s match against Birmingham City.
In an exclusive interview with Football Insider, Hackett explained that even without VAR, referee Joshua Smith was in a good position to issue a red card at the King Power Stadium.
In the 76th minute, Pereira made a risky tackle on Kyogo Furuhashi just outside the penalty box. While the Leicester full-back protested his innocence, Birmingham was pushing for an equalizer after Abdul Fatawu had given them a slim lead in the 8th minute.
Despite the challenge, Pereira remained on the pitch and was only shown a yellow card. Moments later, he scored the match-winner by converting a cross from Jeremy Monga.
This incident has become a major talking point in the game, as it occurred in the final stages of a crucial match for both teams vying for promotion to the Premier League.
Hackett, reflecting on the incident, said: “From such a clear viewing position, it’s hard to understand why the referee issued the wrong card. This wasn’t a reckless challenge—it was serious foul play. Pereira was off the ground and out of control when he made contact, and his speed clearly met the criteria for excessive force.”
Hackett added that if VAR had been available, the referee’s mistake would have been corrected, suggesting that it was a missed opportunity for a more accurate decision. He noted that, up until that moment, the referee had been performing well.
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