Credit: Imago / Sky Sports

Harri Burton

Mon 18 May 2026 15:00, UK

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Brennan Johnson deserves to feel disappointed after failing to win a penalty in Brentford’s four-goal thriller against Crystal Palace.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that referee Samuel Barrott and VAR official Paul Howard missed a blatant foul in the area.

Moments before the Bees equalised for the second time, with Dango Ouattara grabbing his brace in the 88th minute, the Welshman went down claiming a spot-kick for a pull on his shirt from Yehor Yarmoliuk.

Brentford and Palace were forced to share the points in a 2-2 draw at the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday, 17 May, but Hackett is adamant that the Eagles should have had the chance to secure all three points.

Samuel Barrott in ‘dereliction of duty’ in the Brennan Johnson incident

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “How can the referee not see that? How can the referee say that’s not impacted on the game? How can the VAR not intervene? 

“It’s unacceptable officiating. It’s a deliberate shirt pull, which should have been recognised by the referee and VAR, and something needs to be done about it.

“To say that isn’t a foul is a dereliction of duty in terms of applying the laws of the game. If you’re Crystal Palace, and Brentford have gone on to score, I’d be writing a letter or having a phone call with the PGMOL today.

“The shirt has extended at least a foot away from the player wearing it. How can’t you see that? How doesn’t it cross the line? That’s what I’d be asking Howard Webb.”

Wales international already fighting for his career at Crystal Palace

The incident would have been the perfect chance for the Welshman to prove himself, even away from Selhurst Park, but instead, it was the Bees who benefited from slack officiating.

Despite only arriving on a £35million deal from Tottenham last summer, Johnson has seriously underwhelmed, and Mick Brown told Football Insider that the Eagles could already cut their losses.

So far, he has two assists in 26 games across all competitions, and the majority of supporters have seen very little from the winger to justify the price tag from just 12 months ago.

While winning a penalty wouldn’t have completely changed the trajectory of his career in South London, it would have gone a long way to impressing whichever manager comes next.