Former referee Keith Hackett has hit hard at Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma after their clash against Arsenal.
The semi-final first leg match between the Gunners and the Parisians ended 1-0 in favour of the French side at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
Hackett was reacting to a controversial incident involving goalkeeper Donnarumma that overshadowed the result.
As the match was nearing its conclusion and the Gunners were attempting to equalise, the Italian goalkeeper went down following very light contact from Ben White during a corner.
Referee Slavko Vinčić ruled a free kick for PSG, effectively putting a stop to any further attacking opportunity for Mikel Arteta’s side.
The actions drew righteous wrath from ex-PGMOL head Keith Hackett, who referred to Donnarumma’s behaviour as “absolutely disgraceful.”
He said to Football Insider, “The football authorities must bring in retrospective punishment for acts of simulation.
“This absolutely disgraceful behaviour is ‘cheating’ and those that work to uphold the integrity of our great game must ensure that action is taken and the goalkeeper issued with a ban.
“This game was viewed around the world and does not set a good example of how the game should be played. The IFAB [International Football Association Board], in the opening sentences of the laws of the game, talk about the philosophy and spirit of our game.
“Then they must do something to ensure that these comments by them are not tarnished. I see praise for the referee last night, but his team have failed to see this action by the goalkeeper or penalising Saka for a non-foul [after the winger was penalised for a push on Nuno Mendes].”
Arsenal will now travel to France, hoping to beat the French side in the second leg next week.
