Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey said Nicholas Jackson was “very lucky” not to be sent off for an apparent
slap on Nottingham Forest defender Morato in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
The striker, who came on in the 81st minute before being substituted, appeared to punch Morato in the face
during a clash between the benches sparked by Neco Williams pushing Marc Cucurella.
The incident was reviewed by VAR, which concluded that the action did not meet the threshold for violent conduct.
However, Jackson could face retrospective action from the Football Association and could potentially be suspended.
Normally a player sent off for violent conduct is given a three-match home suspension, meaning Jackson will miss
the Liverpool game as well as the Premier League and League Cup games against Newcastle United after the
international break. Halcy, a former highland referee, says that Jackson was lucky not to be fired in the middle of the crash.
Talking to the sun, he said, “I can say that he was very lucky. After seeing the case, VAR thought
that there was no violent action. So he was very lucky. He could have been given a red card and sent off.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea will be fined for picking up six yellow cards in the draw with Forest.
Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana will miss the visit to Liverpool after receiving five yellow cards this season.
Coach Enzo Maresca denied there was a lack of discipline within his team. “It’s something we have to improve,
but overall I like the way the team is fighting,” he said. “I like that they come together as a team on this kind of thing, I don’t see any issues with that.
Of course, of course, there are definitely things we can control and do more. Probably one of them.
“But I’m very happy if I ask me about the spirit of the team, how they fight together and how they do something together.”
