'This is amazing' - Wolves star should be banned after Newcastle controversy
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Harri Burton
Mon 15 September 2025 12:03, UK
Chris Kavanagh was “hugely let down” after not sending Wolves down to 10 men against Newcastle United, according to Keith Hackett.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that VAR should have intervened after Kavanagh missed a clear red card at St James’ Park on Saturday, 13 September.
Nick Woltemade scored the only goal of the game on his debut for the Magpies, handing Eddie Howe‘s side their first Premier League victory of the 2025-26 campaign.
Newcastle’s summer transfer target Jorgen Strand Larsen was missing through injury for the key clash, though the Old Gold caused plenty of issues during a tightly-fought affair away from Molineux Stadium.
Matters could have been made much harder for Vitor Pereira‘s side, however.
In the 20th minute, after a lofted ball over the top, Yerson Mosquera cynically dragged Harvey Barnes to the floor.
The 24-year-old was clearly the last man for Wolves, and had he failed to stop the Newcastle attack, Hackett is in no doubt that Barnes would have had an opportunity to score.
He says Mosquera should have been sent off and now serving an extended suspension.
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Following Man United‘s draw with Fulham, Hackett ripped into Kavanagh, agreeing with Gary Neville that Calvin Bassey should not have been forced off for 30 seconds after being caught in the eye.
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Now, the official has been involved in yet another controversial incident at the beginning of the 2025-26 campaign, leaving the former PGMOL chief almost lost for words.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “This is amazing for me because this is a foul.
Looking at the position of the foul and the defenders, had that challenge not taken place, Barnes would have had a shot on goal.
“If this is the quality of his judgement, Chris Kavanagh ought to have a quiet word with him.
I’d have hoped Kavanagh had seen it, but he probably wanted confirmation.
“You might question the chances of controlling the ball, but knowing Barnes, had that foul not taken place, he would have controlled it and had a shot at goal.