Garth Crooks has called for Premier League referee Stuart Attwell to be sacked after he failed to send off Manchester United’s Marcel Sabitzer for “the worst tackle I have seen in years”.
Sabitzer got away with a high challenge on Leicester City defender Wout Faes without as much as a caution during the Red Devils’ 3-0 win on Sunday.
VAR obviously did not think it was worthy of a second look for referee Attwell, who had a perfect view of the incident, which he did give a free-kick for.
Many fans believe Sabitzer was lucky to remain on the pitch. The Austrian did not follow through on Faes, perhaps saving him.
While fans, especially of the Leicester contingent, have been left fuming, BBC pundit Crooks actually thinks the decision from Attwell was so poor that he should be sacked.
“Premier League referee Stuart Attwell should be relieved of his duties,” a fuming Crooks said.
“He allowed Manchester United’s Marcel Sabitzer to remain on the pitch after the worst tackle I have seen in years and without so much as a caution.
“What made matters worse, Attwell then booked Leicester City’s Nampalys Mendy, having made not one, but two, perfectly legitimate tackles.
“Of course, it is the referee’s opinion that ultimately matters, but if a top-class official cannot distinguish between a ‘career-threatening tackle’ and two perfectly legitimate challenges, then that referee has no business officiating in the top league in the world.
