Hackett Exclusive: Simon Hooper should be demoted to Championship after WBA incident
We’re delighted to welcome former Premier League referee Keith Hackett as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at West Brom…
Keith Hackett has claimed that Simon Hooper should be demoted to the Championship after his display in the West Brom defeat against Crystal Palace.
Sam Allardyce labelled the referee as a “simpleton” after he failed to stop the game at Selhurst Park after a clear head injury.
The former Premier League referee insisted that the Hooper missed numerous decisions, and claimed he falls way below the standards needed in the top-flight.
Speaking exclusively to West Brom News, Hackett said, “I worry about this referee, to be honest.
“I don’t think at the moment he’s anywhere near the standard required at Premier League level, and I think he needs to make progress fast, otherwise the PGMOL should in fact drop him down and let him get more experience in the Championship.
“All the discussion that’s taking place on head injuries and the terrible outcome that we’re seeing in either players dying early and various other things, we’ve got to be alive.
“When a player sustains a head injury, that’s the alert button and the game is immaterial, the players’ health is far more important than the game and that’s probably why Sam gets frustrated and why he shouted at the referee.
“There’s no excuse, pull it up and stop it.”
There is simply no excuse, just as Hackett mentions.
Everyone knows one of the main decisions as an official is to stop play if there is a head injury, but yet Hooper seemed to simply forget.
That isn’t good enough, and there has to be serious repercussions and Hooper being demoted to the Championship may get him away from the pressure cooker of the top-flight.
Allardyce may have gone too far, but he was simply sticking up for his players during the heat of the moment and he should never have to do that.
The officials are there to protect the players, and if they can’t do that, that should be addressed immediately.
In other West Brom news, Sam Allardyce explains the absence of Karlan Grant & Robinson