Ex-Fifa official ‘surprised’ by VAR as controversial Ollie Watkins footage emerges from Aston Villa
Keith Hackett has claimed Ollie Watkins’ goal for Aston Villa as they drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace on Sunday (15 May) should have been disallowed.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee questioned why VAR did not decide to intervene on Watkins’ tangle with Marc Guehi.
Lucas Digne whipped in a trademark cross that was finished by the 26-year-old after he beat Guehi to the ball.
The Crystal Palace players appealed to referee Chris Kavanagh claiming Watkins had pulled the shirt of his opponent as the cross was put in.
Kavanagh ignored their appeals and VAR operator David Coote decided it was not a clear and obvious error so the goal was allowed to stand.
But Hackett has admitted he was “surprised” did not feel the need to intervene and tell Kavanagh to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.
After analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley he said: “I think VAR should have come in and that goal disallowed.
“The attacker has clearly fouled the defender, the referee is miles away. It was a difficult one for the referee but VAR could have said ‘Have another look’.
“I was surprised VAR did not come in, because, for me, that was a clear and obvious error.”
The goal was Watkins’ 25th in the Premier League for Aston Villa since his £30million move from Brentford in the summer of 2020.
As quoted by Birmingham Live after the game, Steven Gerrard insisted the England international is “going nowhere” amid reported interest from West Ham.
In other news, Aston Villa are lining up a move to sign a £60million-valued star after a double twist.