Manchester United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka was fortunate to avoid a late red card during his side's 1-1 Premier League draw with West Ham United at Old Trafford, according to a former top-flight official.
Controversial Challenge Goes Unpunished
The pivotal moment arrived in the closing stages of the match on Thursday, 5th December 2025. Shortly after West Ham's 83rd-minute equaliser, Wan-Bissaka, already on a yellow card, made a late sliding challenge on the Hammers' Patrick Dorgu.
Referee Andrew Kitchen allowed play to continue as United retained possession, but the decision has sparked significant debate. Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett believes it was a clear error.
Hackett's Verdict on the Refereeing Error
Speaking to Football Insider, Hackett stated that while he felt Kitchen had a good game overall, the official missed a crucial call. "I would like him to review the two Wan-Bissaka challenges, particularly the last one," Hackett said.
He elaborated: "On a yellow card, you put in a reckless challenge, he should have had a second yellow followed by the red. He's a lucky guy. Andrew, you've got to keep focused up until the final whistle."
Wan-Bissaka's first caution came earlier in the second half for a challenge on Mason Mount.
Match Recap and Manager Reaction
The game itself saw Diogo Dalot give Manchester United the lead just before the hour mark, finishing after a Casemiro mis-hit. West Ham levelled through Soungoutou Magassa, who converted a rebound after a Jarrod Bowen header was cleared off the line.
The result moved United up to eighth in the table, but manager Ruben Amorim was visibly frustrated post-match, dismissing suggestions his team's performances were regressing. "It's not going backwards. The results are going backwards," he said.
United have a quick chance to respond when they face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday evening. Amorim expects to have defender Matthijs de Ligt back available, while the returns of Matheus Cunha and the fact neither Dorgu nor Casemiro picked up a suspension-triggering yellow card offered minor consolations.
