Ex-Premier League referee: Man City victims of major VAR blunder as controversial Erling Haaland footage emerges
VAR should have awarded Man City a penalty during their 3-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday (22 October), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee insisted Erling Haaland was fouled by Robert Sanchez in the opening stages at the Etihad.
As shown on the BBC’s Match of the Day programme, Haaland and Sanchez came together after a Kevin De Bruyne cross but Craig Pawson waved away the appeals for a penalty.
VAR operator Lee Mason did not feel it was a clear and obvious error despite footage showing that Sanchez appeared to stamp on his opponent’s ankle.
Man City were eventually awarded a penalty just before half-time for a foul on Bernardo Silva and Haaland converted from the spot.
“The Haaland one is nailed on, for me,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“He’s grabbed him and brought him down.
“We’ve seen this before from Craig Pawson, he relies heavily on VAR. He tends to wait and wait and wait.
“I was rather surprised that Lee Mason did not come in and give this. For me, it was a penalty.
“Ultimately, at the end of the day, what the referee should have done is squeeze a bit closer to the penalty area.
“He hasn’t got the best view, in fairness to him, because the player was covering it.
“It’s a foul and this is exactly where VAR has to come in and help the referee. I think that VAR has let Pawson down.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire has revealed that Man City supporters have the “key” as the details of a “destructive” plot emerge.