Ex-Premier Leauge referee: West Ham victims of major injustice as Tomas Soucek footage analysed
Keith Hackett has insisted West Ham should have had a penalty for Romain Perraud’s foul on Tomas Soucek on Sunday (16 October).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Premier League referee does not understand why VAR did not intervene.
As shown on the BBC’s Match of the Day 2 (16 October), Perraud brought down Soucek in the Southampton penalty area in the first half.
The game finished 1-1 after Declan Rice found a second half equaliser to Perraud’s opening goal.
As quoted by Football.London after the game (15 October), David Moyes described the incident as a “judo” move.
The Hammers boss did not blame referee Peter Bankes and claimed that the VAR official Simon Hooper “needs to go to Specsavers”.
Hackett insisted the foul should have resulted in a penalty for the Irons.
“He [Perraud] has rattled the player to the ground,” he told Football Insider.
“So, for me, that is a penalty kick. I cannot understand why it was not given and neither can I understand why VAR did not come in to help the referee.
“He [Bankes] is obviously looking at the area of the ball. The truth is that if they are positioned correctly, as referees, that is the incident that they should see and that is the incident they have got to stop ducking.
“However you look at it it is an offence that needs to be penalised. It is football not rugby.“
In other news, Campbell has backed West Ham to seal deal for Serie A midfielder after insider’s reveal.