Exclusive: Wolves’ Ait-Nouri avoids nailed on red v Man City after Bournemouth gaffe

Rayan Ait-Nouri may have escaped a red card for his foul on Bernardo Silva in Man City’s win over Wolves thanks to a mistake made in a previous game by referee Peter Bankes, says Keith Hackett.

The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that he found it “incredible” the left-back had avoided a red card for his foul in the Portuguese midfielder.

Having endured a miserable start to the season, the Sky Blues were looking to keep their unbeaten run going as the battle heats up for Champions League qualification.

Nottingham Forest’s 2-0 loss to Brentford was a huge boost for Pep Guardiola’s side, and they capitalised on the Tricky Trees dropping points by claiming three of their own against an in-form Wolves side.

However, whilst Kevin De Bruyne‘s clinical finish won City the match, the main talking point afterwards was a rash challenge from Ait-Nouri on Silva.

Rayan Ait-Nouri escapes red card after challenge on Bernardo Silva

With 72 minutes gone and Vitor Pereira’s side looking for a way back into the game, Ait-Nouri looked to dribble his way out of City’s midfield press.

Dancing past the exit-linked Matheus Nunes, the Algerian defender lost control of the ball and attempted to roll it past Silva.

However, as Ait-Nouri knocked it past the former Monaco man, his foot landed awkwardly on the midfielder’s ankle.

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Silva crumpled to the ground in pain and replays showed the challenge was a forceful one, but after a short review by VAR, the 23-year-old escaped punishment.

Hackett had been outraged ahead of the game to see that Howard Webb had appointed Bankes to another important game after his involvement in sending off Evanilson against Man United, a decision which was then overturned, and the referee appears to have compounded that error at the Etihad.

Keith Hackett reviews footage of Rayan Ait-Nouri challenge

Having reviewed the footage of the challenge, ex-PGMOL chief Hackett told Football Insider exclusively Ait-Nouri was very fortunate to avoid a red card for the challenge that had “a degree of malice”, saying: “I find it incredible that the Wolves number three [Ait-Nouri] has not received a red card for serious foul play.

“He rolls the foot on top of the ball and then, with studs showing, lands with force onto the lower leg of the Manchester City player.

“To state that there is not sufficient force in the challenge from VAR is frankly incorrect. This action by the Wolves number three [Ait-Nouri] fulfilled the law for serious foul play.

“The law states a tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play.

“Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.

Hackett then added: “Studs showing, it endangered the safety of an opponent, and it had a degree of malice.

“It fulfilled the requirement in terms of force. This was a red card challenge which should be outlawed in the game.