A former PGMOL general manager has said he expects James Maddison to face disciplinary action from the FA following his outspoken comments about refereeing.
The controversy stems from Tottenham’s 2-1 win over West Ham in Saturday’s London derby at the London Stadium.
Spurs thought they had taken the lead in the first half when Cristian Romero turned home from a Mohammed Kudus inswinging corner. However, referee Jarred Gillett blew for a foul on Kyle Walker-Peters by Micky van de Ven.
Replays showed that Van de Ven had actually been shoved by West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes, sparking the collision. Despite the confusion, VAR chose not to intervene, leaving Tottenham frustrated.
After the match, Maddison criticised the decision and the broader state of officiating in the Premier League, declaring that referees and VAR have had “an absolute shocker” this season.
His remarks came amid growing scrutiny of technology and refereeing standards, with several contentious calls dominating the early weeks of the campaign.
Keith Hackett acknowledged that Maddison’s frustrations were understandable and even supported players being honest in expressing their views.
Nevertheless, he warned that the FA closely monitors public criticism of officials, particularly on social media, and predicted the midfielder would be charged.
“I hope that we never stop players from expressing their opinion. I agree with his view that the season has not started well for match officials,” Hackett told Tottenham News.
“I expect Maddison to be charged. The FA are clearly monitoring comments made on social media throughout all levels of the game.”
