A controversial refereeing decision regarding Piero Hincapie was one of the early talking points when Arsenal faced Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.
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The Ecuadorian international was at an early disadvantage when referee Peter Banks immediately handed him a yellow card following an early challenge on Matheus Nunez.
Matt Upson questions referee Peter Banks’ decision
The incident drew immediate criticism from former Arsenal defender Matt Upson, who was not happy with the decision, BBC Sport reported.
“It was the first big moment for referee Peter Banks. Piero Hincapie arrived very late to Matheus Nunez in midfield and the referee gave the Arsenal man a yellow card.”
Upson, who delivered his verdict shortly after, was particularly critical of the referee’s interpretation of the challenge.
“Piero Hincapie didn’t catch Matheus Nunez very well. The referee was very careless with that yellow card. It was far from a warning.”
The 46-year-old pundit’s view reflects the broader sense that even though the timing of the tackle from the Arsenal defender appeared to be mistimed, the contact itself was minimal.
Early booking will impact Arsenal’s approach at Wembley
Hincapie’s alertness had the potential to shape Arsenal’s defensive approach for the remainder of the game, especially given the intensity and pace Manchester City brought to the wide areas.
The South American, who is set to make a permanent move to Arsenal in the summer after agreeing a deal worth around €52 million, has impressed with his versatility this season, playing in both central and full-back positions depending on Mikel Arteta’s needs.
Arsenal’s finals line-up already includes notable absentees such as Eberechi Eze and Julian Timber, with players like the Ecuadorian being given greater responsibility to maintain defensive discipline against City’s attacking threat.
In a game where the outcome is often decided by the slimmest of margins, the early yellow card inevitably added further caution to Hincapie’s performance, and also fueled debate about whether the referee had set the bar too low for disciplinary action in such a high-stakes game.
