Keith Hackett shares exactly why Isaac Price wasn't sent off as West Brom star in Nations League controversy
Keith Hackett believes that West Brom star Isaac Price was correctly not sent off for Northern Ireland against Hungary.
In a drab 0-0 draw at Windsor Park on Monday, the Baggies star was booked for a late lunge on Bolla Bendegúz.
Hungary manager Marco Rossi believes it should have been red.
It didn't help that Bendegúz had to be stretchered off with what looks like a serious ankle injury.
Instead, Price will now be available for two further Nations League fixtures for Nothern Ireland across the next week.
James Morrison will hope to welcome back his stars like Price fully fit, but a trip to Ukraine next won't help that before taking on Georgia at home again.
Was Isaac Price lucky?
Hackett believes that the challenge was reckless, not serious foul play.
Speaking exclusively to West Brom News, the ex-FIFA referee did admit it was borderline, but the right call was made.
"The Manager of Hungry should first of all understand when he makes the comment about international rules be aware that the game around the world operates under the Laws of the game produced by the IFAB," he said.
"So the referee have to look at this challenge and determine if it is reckless
"The law states reckless is when a player acts with disregard to the danger to, or consequences for, an opponent and must be cautioned.
"Or serious foul play, a tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play.
"Despite the injury to the Hungarian player the determination by the referee of reckless is correct.
"Both players were challenging for the ball and I see no malice or brutality in the challenge by Price.
"Yes, it is borderline but if you are going to send off a player you need to be 100 per cent in your decision making accuracy."
Just how bad was the tackle?
It didn't look great, but there is a clear reason why this wasn't red.
Price slid to block a clearance, and it was his trailling back leg that actually made contact in the challenge.
If his front leg had made contact with that force, there would have been zero complaints with a red card.
Of course, serious injuries don't help any arguments and aren't wished upon anybody, but that doesn't automatically mean the punishment should be upgraded.