Ex-Fifa official: ‘Refs are missing this’ as controversial Konsa footage emerges from Aston Villa
Aston Villa should have “absolutely” had a penalty in their 2-1 loss to Brentford yesterday (2 January), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed Villa should have had a spot-kick after Mads Bech Sorensen tangled with Ezri Konsa at a corner.
The ball was floated to the back post but Konsa could not get a clean contact as his shirt was being tugged by Sorensen.
The defender stayed on his feet and there were few appeals to referee Craig Pawson as play continued, as shown on the BBC’s Match of the Day programme.
That would have given Steven Gerrard’s side a chance to double their lead after Danny Ings’ early goal had given them a 1-0 lead.
They eventually succumbed to a 2-1 defeat thanks to goals from Yoane Wissa and Mads Roerslev.
Asked whether Villa deserved a penalty after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “Absolutely.
“That was a shirt pull, Konsa was pulled back. That’s a penalty all day.
“A holding offence in a penalty area is penalised with a penalty kick if it’s the defender who commits the offence.
“I think the bar is too high. It doesn’t matter if he goes down, that might have been the influence.
“The referee’s are missing these holding offences.”
Sunday’s result saw Brentford leapfrog Aston Villa in the Premier League table.
The Midlands giants now sit in 13th after a run of three defeats in their last four games.
In other news, West Ham are plotting a raid to sign an Aston Villa attacker who is now available for sale.