Keith Hackett has commented on the decision not to show a second yellow card to Everton’s left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko during their match against Manchester City. Speaking to Football Insider, the former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official acknowledged that the referee’s failure to issue a second yellow card to Mykolenko was a mistake. However, Hackett believes that referee Simon Hooper is unlikely to lose his upcoming assignment for the Manchester United vs. Newcastle game on December 30.
The match at the Etihad Stadium on Boxing Day ended in a 1-1 draw, with Erling Haaland missing a penalty early in the second half. The penalty was awarded after Mykolenko fouled Savinho in the box, but despite already having a yellow card, he was not shown a second for the infraction. Hackett thinks that Hooper will be spoken to regarding the missed second yellow but does not expect any major consequences for his officiating role in the upcoming match.
Despite the missed penalty, Manchester City’s form has continued to decline, with just one win in their last 13 games across all competitions. Everton, on the other hand, has earned draws against Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City in their last three games, as Sean Dyche seeks to prove himself after the Friedkin Group’s takeover.
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