Hackett has been left unimpressed by the displays of Moss, who came in for criticism during Everton’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.
Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini is booked by referee Jonathan Moss
Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has hit out at fellow official Jon Moss and believes the league should seriously consider dropping him over his recent displays.
Speaking to You Are the Ref.com and picked up by The Mirror, Hackett, formerly in charge of the Professional Game Match Officials Board, was critical of Moss’ officiating in Everton’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace and the circumstances surrounding Romelu Lukaku’s goal.
With Moss awarding a direct free kick after Palace’s Damien Delaney fouled Phil Jagielka, Lukaku stepped up to fire Everton in front, but because Delaney didn’t make contact with Jagielka, the free kick should have actually been indirect and the goal ruled out.
Everton’s Romelu Lukaku scores their first goal with a free-kick
“The law is very clear,” Hackett said. “When a player commits an act of dangerous play, if there’s no contact it’s an indirect free kick.
“I expected Lukaku’s effort to be retaken and it wasn’t, that was 100% incorrect.”
Moss has been officiating in the top flight since 2011 and in The Football League since 2003, but that still hasn’t stopped him from bearing the brunt of a backlash, with former referee Graham Poll also condemning Moss in his Daily Mail column after booking five West Ham players in their defeat to Southampton.
West Ham United’s Cheikhou Kouyate looks dejected after Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse scored their third goal
And in a table of referee competency compiled by You Are the Ref, Moss came rock bottom for the most incorrect key match decisions last season with 13 wrong calls in 22 games, which has not gone down too well with Hackett.
“Moss is a referee who is a consistent bottom of the table performer,” he said. “Every time he referees it’s a bit of a disaster.
“For me he either needs a rest or he needs taking off the panel. We’ve got professional referees, so let’s be professional.
“He’s not up to the standard in my opinion.”
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