Former referee insists Ugochukwu should have been shown a straight red card against Liverpool

Former FIFA referee and ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has claimed that Burnley midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu should have been shown a straight red card for serious foul play during his side’s 1-0 defeat to Liverpool.

 The incident occurred in the 16th minute of the Premier League clash at Turf Moor when Ugochukwu made a sliding challenge on Alexis Mac Allister.

The tackle left the Liverpool midfielder clutching his ankle, and he was later substituted at half-time, with Conor Bradley coming on in his place.

Referee Michael Oliver opted to show Ugochukwu a yellow card at the time, but Hackett believes that decision was incorrect given the severity of the challenge. Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett said: "he challenge endangered the opponent and fulfilled the law for serious foul play. The referee should have sanctioned the offence with a red card."

Despite escaping a straight dismissal for the foul on Mac Allister, Ugochukwu did not finish the match.

He was later sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a late challenge on Florian Wirtz.

Hackett’s comments place further scrutiny on Oliver’s handling of the match, particularly given that Burnley were already under pressure against Arne Slot’s Liverpool side.

The Clarets went on to lose the game 1-0 after Mohamed Salah converted a penalty deep into stoppage time.

For Ugochukwu, it was a night to forget, with his early tackle drawing criticism and his eventual dismissal leaving Burnley short-handed in a match they had hoped to salvage.

The 21-year-old will now miss Burnley’s upcoming fixture against Nottingham Forest through suspension, while the debate over whether his first foul warranted a straight red card continues.

Wale Adejumo

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