Ex-Fifa official: Man United victims of major injustice as controversial Jadon Sancho footage analysed
Man United should have had a penalty kick for a handball by Cedric Soares in Arsenal’s 3-1 victory on Saturday (23 April), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee insisted Cedric knew exactly what he was doing and should have been punished.
As shown on the BBC’s Match of the Day programme, the 30-year-old pulled it back with his hand when on all fours just inside his penalty area.
He had got in front of Jadon Sancho but the Portuegese had to resort to using his hand to stop the attack.
Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo both appealed to Stuart Attwell but their claims were ignored and play was allowed to continue.
Arsenal were 1-0 up at the time and a penalty would have given Man United a golden opportunity to level it up.
“I thought that was a penalty kick,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“He’s on the floor but he’s actually intentionally scooped that ball back.
“There’s a difference between falling on the ball and then actually handling the ball. For me, he’s gone on the ball and then handled it.
“This player knows exactly what he’s done, he’s scooped it back to his colleague deliberately.”
Saturday’s result left Arsenal in the top four on goal difference while Man United are down in sixth.
They are closer in points to 18th-place Everton than league leaders Man City.
In other news, Kieran Maguire has revealed a ‘£111million’ Man United reveal proves the Glazers have ‘finally woken up’.