Kavanagh backed by ex-chief after Liverpool red card

Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett says referee Chris Kavanagh should not be sanctioned for his decision to send off Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch in the defeat to Manchester City.

Referee Chris Kavanagh has received backing from a former officiating chief following the controversial red card shown to Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch. The dismissal was a key moment in Manchester City's 3-0 victory at Anfield on Saturday.

Keith Hackett, the former head of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, said Kavanagh should face no punishment for the decision. Hackett argued that the head of the PGMOL, Howard Webb, needs his best officials on the pitch.

"I don't see any reason why Chris Kavanagh should not be given a game next week," Hackett stated. "This isn't about opinion. This is about application of the law."

Hackett, speaking to a sports media outlet, elaborated on the pressures of refereeing at the highest level. He stated that while every decision is scrutinized, officials must be trusted to apply the laws of the game as they see them in real time. He pointed out that Kavanagh is one of the select group's most experienced referees and that removing him from duty would set a poor precedent.

The incident under review

Gravenberch was shown a second yellow card in the 62nd minute for a late challenge on City's Jérémy Doku. The decision came with Liverpool trailing 1-0, and City scored twice more after the sending-off to seal the win.

While the second caution was deemed technically correct by a separate analysis, Gravenberch's first yellow card was widely viewed as harsh. Replays suggested the referee misjudged the midfielder's earlier contact on Elliot Anderson. However, once a player is on a booking, a challenge from behind carries a high risk of a second yellow if it is a foul with consequence.

The introduction of VAR review for second yellow cards this season did not apply, as the system can only intervene if a card is factually incorrect, not for subjective judgments on the severity of a foul. A PGMOL spokesperson confirmed that the VAR, John Brooks, checked the incident for a potential clear and obvious error in the awarding of the second yellow card but found no grounds to recommend an on-field review.

Hackett's support comes amid pressure on Webb to take action against Kavanagh from sections of the media and fans. The former FIFA referee emphasised the need for consistency and experience in high-pressure matches. He warned that constantly sidelining referees after controversial calls would lead to a shortage of officials confident enough to take charge of major fixtures.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, in his post-match comments, expressed frustration with the decision but stopped short of directly criticizing the referee. Meanwhile, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola declined to comment on the specifics, stating it was a matter for the officials.