Exclusive: Ex-PGMOL chief ‘amazed’ by James McAtee incident in Man City loss
Keith Hackett has given his thoughts on the decision not to award Man City a penalty in their Champions League defeat to Real Madrid.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that VAR should have intervened to award Pep Guardiola‘s side a spot-kick late on in that loss to the Spanish giants.
Man City produced a dismal performance as they were knocked out of the Champions League in a play-off by Carlo Ancelotti’s side on Wednesday night (19 February).
A Kylian Mbappe hat-trick secured Madrid’s passage to the last 16, with a stoppage time tap in from Nico Gonzalez little more than a consolation for the visitors at the Bernabeu.
However, there is a belief that the Premier League champions should have been given the chance to get another goal on the scoresheet deep into the tie.
Man City denied penalty late on in Real Madrid defeat
Shortly before Gonzalez did find the net, Guardiola’s side believed they should have been given the chance to do so from the spot.
As Madrid cleared a corner, Brahim Diaz barged into the back of James McAtee, sending the Man City substitute to the ground.
| Man City last five games | Competition | Result |
| Real Madrid (A) | Champions League | Lost 3-1 |
| Newcastle United (H) | Premier League | Won 4-0 |
| Real Madrid (H) | Champions League | Lost 3-2 |
| Leyton Orient (A) | FA Cup | Won 2-1 |
| Arsenal (A) | Premier League | Lost 5-1 |
Referee Istvan Kovacs then awarded a free-kick to the Premier League champions, before replays showed that McAtee was inside the box when he was fouled.
Speaking on commentary on TNT Sports, former Real Madrid and Man City midfielder Steve McManaman described the situation as “ridiculous”.
Despite that, VAR did not intervene to award a penalty to the visitors, which has left Hackett stunned.
Keith Hackett reacts to Man City penalty decision vs Real Madrid
Speaking to Football Insider about the decision not to give Man City a penalty for the challenge on McAtee, the former referee said:
“I am amazed that there was no intervention by the VAR on this decision. The line is part of the penalty area and the award by the referee should have been a penalty kick to Manchester City.”
After Erling Haaland was injured against Newcastle, the striker who scored a penalty in the first-leg did not feature at the Bernabeu, so it remains to be seen who would have if a penalty had been given.
Man City will now turn thir focus to their Premier League clash with Liverpool on Sunday (23 February).