An ex-Premier League referee has labelled one Manchester United star as a “cheat” and called for post-match sanctions for diving to come into the game.
Manchester United played Athletic Club on Thursday night as they progressed to the final of the Europa League, where they will face Tottenham Hotspur.
The Reds won 4-1 on the night against the Spanish outfit at Old Trafford after beating them 3-0 in the first-leg of the semi-final.
United were awarded a penalty in Bilbao but felt unfortunate to not have at least one more across the tie after two major incidents.
In the first-leg, Alejandro Garnacho was brought down in the box in the exact same manner as the initial penalty on Rasmus Hojlund, but it was waved on the second time.
Then, at Old Trafford, there were calls for a penalty on Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu after he looked to be brought down inside the area as he was advancing with the ball.
Ex-Premier League referee slams Dorgu as cheat
Despite United fans being convinced that Dorgu should have been given a penalty, former Premier League referee Keith Hackett completely disagrees.
The 80-year-old instead thought the Danish international went to ground too easily in that instance and slammed him as a “cheat”.
He also says that the sport must introduce post-match sanctions for those who are caught diving and for suspensions to be handed out as well.
“Football must take action and introduce a post match review panel to interrogate acts of simulation and apply a sanction of suspension if they believe a case can be proven,” Hackett told Football Insider.
“This is one way of preventing players going to ground to easily in an attempt to cheat.”
Thankfully, Dorgu will have no suspension and is set to start the Europa League final against Spurs later this month.
Dorgu told referee to overturn United penalty
Hackett’s assessment of Dorgu’s challenge is extremely strange and one of the poorest examples you can use when speaking about simulation.
There was clear contact with the back of his leg and the worst that you can say is that it was not enough contact for a penalty – which is still wrong in the eyes of many United fans – but it was clearly not a dive.
In fact, it’s even worse to slam Dorgu for this considering he is perhaps one of the only top level players this season who tried to convince the referee against giving a penalty.
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During the quarter-final clash against Real Sociedad earlier this season, Dorgu was awarded a penalty after being taken out inside the area.
However, the defender had won the ball and before VAR started their intervention, the United player told the official that it was not a penalty, which earned him praise across the footballing world.
Hackett should probably try and look at other, actual offenders for diving.
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