Ex-Premier League referee lambasts ‘appalling’ Lewis O’Brien footage at Nottingham Forest
Huddersfield Town should have been awarded a penalty for Max Lowe’s challenge on Lewis O’Brien in their 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest in the Championship play-off final on Sunday (29 May), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed “VAR failed dramatically” by not intervening and the decision was “appalling”.
With less than 10 minutes to go and Nottingham Forest leading 1-0, Lowe challenged O’Brien just inside the penalty area but referee Jon Moss waved away Huddersfield’s appeals.
Forest held onto the lead and ended their 23-year Premier League absence.
“This shows Moss’ lack of movement,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“This is a clear penalty, it’s 100 per cent a clear foul with a push into the penalty area.
“As a consequence of that, his view is probably impaired, in fairness to him. He’s not got that agility to adjust his viewing angle, that’s what he should do.
“He’s not seen it, one can assume, so he’s not given it.
“That’s where Paul Tierney on VAR has to come in. It’s appalling for a game at this level to have what are effectively two elite referees not doing their job. Introducing VAR for this game failed dramatically.
“It was shocking. If you’re a football fan, it doesn’t matter if you support Huddersfield or not, there is an injustice here that has had an impact on the game.
“Ok, you can say they might miss the penalty kick but these are big decisions.
“You’ve got two elite referees making a complete hash of a nailed on penalty kick. A kid in the park would give it.”
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