‘Act of simulation’ – Ex-FIFA ref blames Thomas-Asante for wrongly denied Coventry penalty
Coventry City’s Brandon Thomas-Asante has been held responsible after he saw his claims for a penalty waved away in the Sky Blues’ season-opener against Hull City on Saturday (9 August).
Ex-FIFA referee and former PGMOL head Keith Hackett believes the forward should have been given a spot kick but his own actions prevented him getting it.
Frank Lampard’s side took on the Tigers at the CBS Arena in their 2025/26 Championship curtain-raiser, with the hosts aiming to go one better this season and win promotion to the Premier League.
Both teams started quickly, each looking to get on the front foot and start the campaign with an early goal, with the Sky Blues’ Tatsuhiro Sakamoto sending a shot fizzing past Ivor Pandur’s post after just three minutes.
Coventry star Jack Rudoni also had two chances go begging, with his first a header that was blocked well by Charlie Hughes, then his second saw him poke wide via a Hull deflection.
The Tigers had numerous chances of their own to open the scoring, with two shots from Regan Slater saved well by Carl Rushworth, but the first period was overshadowed by a decision that left Coventry fans and players annoyed with referee Bobby Madley.
Hull held Coventry to a 0-0 draw after a frantic second-half, with the hosts just lacking some composure and cutting edge in the final third to grab a winner.
Coventry denied a penalty after Slater challenge
This article contains exclusive comments from ex-PGMOL chief, FIFA official and former professional referee Keith Hackett.
Each side created chances well in-and-around the penalty area, and the hosts thought they should have been awarded a penalty in the 24th minute as Thomas-Asante went down following a collision with Hull midfielder Slater.
Former West Brom forward Thomas-Asante was battling with Semi Ajayi just inside the area when the defender poked the ball away from danger into Slater’s path, which saw the Coventry striker set off quickly to try and reach the ball.
Thomas-Asante looked to have reached the ball first and went down as Slater initiated contact while trying to kick the ball out of play, but the Sky Blues man’s claims for a spot-kick were duly waved away by Madley as the game continued.
Thomas-Asante blasted for ‘simulation’ despite Hull foul
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the incident, the former referee said: “This is a careless challenge by the Hull City player and in the usual manner we see contact and an exaggerated fall by the attacker in an attempt to win a penalty kick.
“It is a foul and should be a penalty kick, but the referee has seen the fall to ground by the attacker and seen the act of simulation rather that original trip.”