Keith Hackett blasts ref who punished Liverpool star on international duty as footage re-analysed

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(Credit: Imago) Mon 13 October 2025 11:08, UK Conor Bradley did not deserve to pick up the yellow card in Northern Ireland’s recent game against Slovakia which will now rule him out of their huge World Cup qualifying clash against Germany.That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that referee Glenn Nyberg should have simply warned the Liverpool defender instead of reaching to his pocket.Michael O’Neill’s side came away with all three points in a vital qualifier against Slovakia on Friday (10 October), but the match was not without controversy as captain Conor Bradley was booked late on.An own goal from David Strelec and a Trai Hume lob sealed the victory for Northern Ireland at Windsor Park, yet the Liverpool right-back was cautioned for a needless foul on Lukas Haraslin just 14 minutes from time.Having already picked up a yellow in his country’s previous qualifier against Germany, Bradley will now painstakingly miss the visit of Julian Nagelsmann’s side on Monday (13 October).Credit: ImagoBradley did not need to get booked ahead of Germany clashBradley shone for Northern Ireland against Slovakia and was at the heart of their victory from right-wing back with the most dribbles completed (5), most fouls won (4) and most duels won (14) [Fotmob] of any player on the pitch.The hosts had a slender 1-0 lead as a huge final 10 minutes approached at Windsor Park, and Bradley let his nerves get the better of him as he chopped down Haraslin on the touchline when he had kicked the ball around him and spun in his own half. MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Referee Nyberg saw fit to book him for the incident, meaning he will be forced to watch from the sidelines against Germany on Monday and Northern Ireland will miss his undoubted quality.Their boss Michael O’Neill admitted post-match that he felt the yellow was “extremely” harsh after he watched it back and also said: “If he was going to give a yellow for that he should have dished out more, especially for the opposition.“Keith Hackett insists Bradley did not deserve a yellow card against SlovakiaThe Liverpool man has caused controversy already this season, with former PGMOL chief Hackett previously telling Football Insider that Bradley did not deserve a red card against Burnley after Scott Parker and his players were incensed at his tackle on Jaidon Anthony.Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee offered his verdict on Bradley’s latest saga, saying: “Here is a player who plays with a degree of force and passion, and we never want that to be taken out of the game.

“When a player has a yellow card to their name, it really should put pressure on the manager to determine ‘can I afford to keep him on the pitch?’ because of his potentially aggressive approach.“When you’re issuing a yellow card which is going to result in a (suspension), I want that challenge to be more than what I’m seeing. I genuinely don’t think that challenge was worthy of a yellow card.

This is where you want referees to apply a threshold that isn’t in the law.“For me, what that referee should have done is blow his whistle, go to the player, bring the captain across and say very clearly, ‘look, be very careful, I want an improvement in how you make these challenges.’“That might be a signal at that point where the manager says, for his own good and the good of the team and future (games), I’m going to take him off. The reality is, I don’t think that’s a yellow card offence.”