Ex-refs chief 'surprised' by what Chris Kavanagh did in Man United-Crystal Palace controversy
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Credit: Imago / Sky Sports Mon 2 March 2026 15:00, UK Chris Kavanagh was far from convincing during a contentious incident involving Maxence Lacroix against Man United at Old Trafford.That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that the referee never looked like reaching the correct conclusion on Sunday, 1 March.The Crystal Palace star, who had opened the scoring after just four minutes, was sent off in the second half after bringing down Matheus Cunha right on the line of Man United‘s penalty area.Unsurprisingly, the Premier League official’s decision was heavily debated, especially after Kavanagh failed to award a red card immediately and depended on a VAR review not to make a mistake.#MUNCRY – 52’ VAR OVERTURNAfter VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of no red card to Lacroix.Referee announcement: “After review, Crystal Palace number 5 commits a clear holding offence which denies a clear, obvious, goal scoring opportunity. MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES What have football fans misunderstood after Maxence Lacroix was sent off?A lot of talk was about the “double jeopardy” rule, but that only comes into effect when the player committing the foul makes a real attempt to play the ball.In Lacroix‘s case, there was no attempt to play the ball, and with no covering defenders, the referee was well within his rights to show a straight red card to the experienced centre-back.Cunha was also accused of diving, and while this is far more subjective, players are going down under less pressure now due to officials not giving the decisions in their favour unless they do.Chris Kavanagh is under growing pressure as a Premier League official.
(Credit Imago)Hackett believes wholeheartedly that it was a simple penalty decision to make at Old Trafford, with the length of time needed to reach that conclusion coming as the most baffling moment.Read more: Howard Webb had been urged to punish Chris Kavanagh just weeks ago.Chris Kavanagh causes disbelief over Man United-Crystal Palace controversySpeaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “If you commit an offence outside the penalty area and continue it into the area, it’s a penalty kick. “That’s where the problem lies, not with Cunha going to ground.
The reason behind Cunha and players like him going to ground is that, with holding offences, players are exaggerating the falls to show an offence has taken place.“That’s where the referee has to make a judgment over whether it’s an act of simulation. He’s going towards goal, and there are no covering defenders.