Ex-Premier League referee: VAR got it wrong as controversial Lloris footage emerges from Tottenham
Keith Hackett has claimed Watford should have been awarded a penalty in their 1-0 loss to Tottenham.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed Hugo Lloris’ challenge on Joao Pedro should have been punished by Robert Jones.
With just 10 minutes to go Watford launched a quick counter-attack that saw Pedro one-on-one with Lloris.
The Spurs goalkeeper dived at his opponent’s feet who went down under the challenge but the referee allowed play to continue.
Claudio Ranieri told the BBC’s Match of the Day programme after the game he agreed with all of Jones’ decisions as that is his “philosophy on football”.
“The referee’s in a great position,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“He’s had a whisper in his ear because he’s touched his communication kit.
“I think that’s a penalty kick. If I was Watford I’d be moaning about that decision.
“OK, there’s a bit of action by the player but I do think that’s a penalty kick.
“It’s a tight call. Lloris has brought him down and that’s a penalty kick.
“We’ve got a relatively new referee on the list. He’s got to have the confidence to make the calls as he sees them. Looking at his body language, it wasn’t convincing.
“If he wasn’t going to give a penalty kick against Lloris he should have nodded his head and said ‘Come on, get on with the game’.
“His hand’s gone to his ear because he’s getting a whisper from the VAR to tell him it’s not a penalty kick.”
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