'Beyond me' - Ex-refs chief utterly baffled as Liverpool vs Brighton controversy re-analysed

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Credit: Imago Mon 15 December 2025 10:00, UK Howard Webb has some explaining to do after his officials failed to send a player off during Liverpool’s win over Brighton on Saturday.That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that Diego Gomez’s challenge on Florian Wirtz deserved a red card on 13 December.Hugo Ekitike netted a brace at Anfield, securing all three points and seeing the Reds move up to sixth in the Premier League table, and leaving the Seagulls stuck in 10th after the weekend’s fixtures.The majority of the game was shrouded by Mohamed Salah’s return to the Liverpool squad, who returned to action with a second-half assist, and it could have been even better had Brighton gone down to 10 men.Diego Gomez somehow avoids a red card vs LiverpoolJust before the half-time whistle, there was a VAR check for a red card on the Seagulls’ No.25, with the entire stadium expecting a routine sending-off.Despite a review from VAR, Gomez was allowed to stay on the pitch, despite raking his studs down Wirtz‘s stomach, until he was replaced in the 87th minute. MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES The Premier League backed Craig Pawson’s decision with an announcement during the game, but supporters remain dumbfounded by how only a yellow card was awarded at Anfield.Having originally removed blame from Pawson, Hackett has doubled down on his view, stating that those at Stockley Park should have had enough evidence to send the referee to the pitch-side monitor.Keith Hackett calls out VAR again as Craig Pawson misses a sending-offHackett, exclusively speaking to Football Insider on The Final Whistle, said: “Absolutely.

This player has endangered the safety of his opponent; it’s serious foul play. “How they determined this wasn’t a red card is beyond me.

You’ve got two referees looking at this incident, including someone at Stockley Park, who can actually view it on multiple occasions. For sure, a red card.” It is certainly one of those incidents that could be addressed by the head of the PGMOL when being interviewed by Michael Owen, and supporters, especially on Merseyside, will be hoping that it is.