Former Premier League referee Graham Poll insists PSV Eindhoven defender Hector Moreno was lucky to stay on the pitch following an horrific challenge on Luke Shaw.
The Mexican international’s forceful tackle on the Manchester United left-back during the two side’s Champions League clash left Shaw with a double fracture of the leg and is now certain to miss a huge portion of the season and his participation at next summer’s European Championships for England are in serious doubt.
Moreno was not even shown a yellow card for the incident and the official for the game at the Philips Stadion Nicola Rizzoli pointed for a corner and Poll has been left incensed with that decision:
“Rizzoli couldn’t have saved Luke Shaw from breaking his leg but he could and should have punished PSV and their defender Hector Moreno for the terrible tackle which caused the horrific fracture,” Poll wrote in his column for Mail Sport.
“Moreno showed no regard for his opponent’s safety when he flew into the tackle. Moreno’s leading leg might have touched the ball but the way he challenged, at pace and off the ground, it was clear he had no control over his actions.”
“Rizzoli knows the law and, while the tackle might have looked worse in slow-motion replays that the referee did not see, should detect and punish tackles made with excessive force.”
“He is one of Uefa’s very best officials but he really missed a poor tackle here. The fact that the Mexican then scored the equaliser really did highlight what a costly mistake the referee had made,” Poll added.
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Shaw’s injury overshadowed a disappointing 2-1 defeat for the Red Devils against the defending Eredivisie champions as Memphis Depay’s goal against his former club was cancelled out by Moreno’s header on the stroke of half-time, before Luciano Narsingh struck the winner just before the hour mark.