Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli should should have sent off PSV Eindhoven defender Hector Moreno for his 'terrible tackle' on Manchester United's Luke Shaw, according to former Premier League official Graham Poll.
The 20-year-old full back was stretchered off in the early stages of the Red Devils' 2-1 defeat to the Dutch champions on Tuesday night after a lengthy stoppage while he received oxygen on the field.
United's worst fears were confirmed soon after as the England international has suffered a double leg fracture.
The England international, who had made an impressive start to the season, is expected to face a considerable spell on the sidelines depending on the severity of the break.
Moreno's challenge was not even ruled to be a foul by the Italian official but Poll is adamant that the Mexican centre back should have been dismissed.
"Rizzoli couldn't have saved Luke Shaw from breaking his leg but he could and should have punished PSV and their defender Hector Moreno for the terrible tackle which caused the horrific fracture," Poll wrote in his Daily Mail column.
"Moreno showed no regard for his opponent's safety when he flew into the tackle. Moreno's leading leg might have touched the ball but the way he challenged, at pace and off the ground, it was clear he had no control over his actions.
"Rizzoli knows the law and, while the tackle might have looked worse in slow-motion replays that the referee did not see, should detect and punish tackles made with excessive force.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you everyone for your messages , words can't describe how gutted I am , my road to recovery starts now, I will come back stronger. — Luke Shaw (@LukeShaw23) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/LukeShaw23/status/643875563443220480" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-2948436-https://twitter.com/LukeShaw23/status/643875563443220480" data-vars-event-id="c23">September 15, 2015</a>
"He is one of Uefa's very best officials but he really missed a poor tackle here. The fact that the Mexican then scored the equaliser really did highlight what a costly mistake the referee had made."
Moreno's header cancelled out Memphis Depay's superb individual opener before Luciano Narsingh nodded home a winner on the hour mark to consign Louis van Gaal's side to defeat.
United have confirmed that Shaw will be operated on once he has returned to Manchester when the full extent of his injury will be discovered.
Moreno, who suffered a broken leg at the World Cup last summer, has apologised to Shaw on Twitter in the wake of the incident.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">First of all I wanna send my strenght to <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/LukeShaw23" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-2948436-https://twitter.com/LukeShaw23" data-vars-event-id="c23">@LukeShaw23</a> I've been through this before and I know how it feels.. So I hope a fast recovery 1/2 — Hector Moreno (@HectorMorenoh) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/HectorMorenoh/status/643928421878374400" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-2948436-https://twitter.com/HectorMorenoh/status/643928421878374400" data-vars-event-id="c23">September 15, 2015</a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">For you and see u again on the field. All the best. 2/2 — Hector Moreno (@HectorMorenoh) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/HectorMorenoh/status/643928736937676800" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-2948436-https://twitter.com/HectorMorenoh/status/643928736937676800" data-vars-event-id="c23">September 15, 2015</a>
