Ex-Fifa official: Man City victims of major injustice as De Bruyne controversy analysed
Keith Hackett has claimed Man City should have had a penalty during their 1-1 draw with Southampton on Saturday (22 January).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed Oriol Romeu’s foul on Kevin De Bruyne was on the line of the penalty area and therefore a spot-kick should have been awarded.
In the 76th minute, De Bruyne played a wonderful one-two with Jack Grealish before being brought down by Romeu with some assistance from Mohammed Salisu.
As shown by the BBC’s Match of the Day programme, referee Simon Hooper waved away City’s appeals before it was checked by VAR.
Darren England, the VAR operator, decided it was a foul but it was not a penalty as it was outside the area.
“This was the one that was on the penalty box and it was on the line and it was a foul,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“The explanation was it was outside the penalty area. The PGMOL recognise there was a foul.
“The second thing here is to recognise that the line of the penalty area is in fact the penalty area. Any offence that is committed on the line of the penalty area is regarded as inside the penalty area and that’s where the offence took place.
“It should have been a penalty but they said it was outside the area. If you look at the video, it’s on the line. It’s such a tight call.
“I can’t understand why Darren England, the VAR, did not give that as a penalty kick. He’s given a foul but it’s not outside the area. The line is not outside, does he need to be reminded of the laws?”
In other news, Kieran Maguire has dropped a ‘big’ Man City reveal after £250million TV money news.