Controversy abounds around Harry Kane’s elbow on Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes.
Former top referee Keith Hackett has weighed in, saying that the Bayern Munich striker’s elbow was dangerous and worthy of a red card. This assessment raises questions about refereeing standards in the Champions League and whether Kane’s reputation affords him undue leniency (it does).
Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has delivered a scathing assessment of Harry Kane’s elbow on Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes, labelling it a blatant red card offence. The incident has reignited the debate about inconsistent officiating in the Champions League and raises serious questions about whether Kane’s reputation grants him undue leniency on the pitch given he has a very long history of not being sent off for elbowing opponents.
Hackett’s analysis highlights Kane’s deliberate actions. The striker’s calculated glance at Gabriel before delivering the elbow strike suggests a premeditated act. The excessive force and reckless nature of the action, Hackett argues, demonstrate Kane’s intent to harm his opponent, exceeding the boundaries of typical physical play.
“Kane used his elbow as a weapon,” Hackett writes in The Telegraph, a far cry from an accidental collision or a player trying to protect himself in an aerial duel. Yet again, this incident exposes a dangerous side to Kane’s game, where he is willing to injure an opponent to gain an advantage.
The referee’s failure to issue a red card, and, even more surprisingly, the lack of VAR intervention, is highly suspect. Hackett, known for his stringent interpretation of the rules, is unequivocal about the severity of Kane’s actions. Had a similar incident occurred in the Premier League, he believes a sending-off would have been inevitable. We all know it wouldn’t however, because we all say Kane do this every season and go unpunished. The England captain has never received a straight red card in 538 professional club matches (and only one two-yellow red, when he was at Leyton Orient).
While some might argue UEFA adopts a more lenient approach, Kane’s elbow crosses a clear line into unacceptable conduct that endangers the safety of other players.
Kane’s escape from a red card unjustly tips the scales in Bayern Munich‘s favour. Not only does it allow their star striker to remain on the pitch, and available for the second leg, but it also sends a message that some players receive preferential treatment on the European stage while Arsenal are left to rue a potentially tie-defining missed call.
The Gunners now face a more difficult challenge in Munich, having to overcome not only Bayern‘s formidable attacking prowess but also the lingering sense that the officiating deck might be stacked against them.