Ex-Premier League referee issues ‘illegal’ Aaron Cresswell claim as controversial West Ham footage emerges
Keith Hackett has claimed Tomas Soucek’s goal as West Ham drew 1-1 with Tottenham on Wednesday (31 August) should have been disallowed.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed Aaron Cresswell was guilty of a foul throw in the build-up to the goal.
Cresswell fired the ball into Michail Antonio who laid it off to Soucek who finished from close range to level the scores.
Referee Peter Bankes was speaking to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg as the throw-in was taken and did not examine Cresswell’s technique.
“Absolutely, this is a foul throw,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“They might call me pedantic here but a throw has to be legal. It’s very clearly spelt out, it has to be behind the head and one continuous movement forward, this is not.
“It’s completely ignored by the referee. Ignore the goal because the throw-in should have been penalised. If the referee had applied the law this goal would not have counted.
“Let me tell you, referees are ignoring the fact that on many occasions we see defenders taking long throws with one hand. With one hand you can get a greater distance and elevation than you can get with two.
“On this occasion, very clearly the law has not been fulfilled. That’s the ball behind the head and in one continuous movement.
“Of course, what we want to see is the law applied.
“People will scream ‘You’re being pedantic’ but the referee has to apply the law. He’s not even looking at the throw.
“The feet are meant to be on or behind the line and are the responsibility of the assistant referee. The hands and the position where it is taken is left to the referee. He wasn’t doing his job.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire has issued a “furious” West Ham fans claim amid a new legal controversy.