Exclusive: Ex-PGMOL chief rules on Birmingham v Charlton handball controversy
Charlton Athletic goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer was fortunate to get away with handling the ball outside his area in his side’s defeat to Birmingham City, Keith Hackett has suggested.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that referee Seb Stockbridge may gave the 25-year-old the benefit of the doubt to avoid punishment.
Jay Stansfield showed why Birmingham smashed the League One transfer record to sign him back in the summer with a stunning individual goal to help his side beat the Addicks on Saturday (15 February).
Prior to that though, the striker and the rest of his side were left angered by the decision of Stockbridge and his officials not to penalise Maynard-Brewer for diving on the ball outside his area.
Ashley Maynard-Brewer survives big handball claim
Early on in the game at St Andrew’s, Birmingham goalkeeper Ryan Allsop sent a long high ball forward down the right flank.
Maynard-Brewer came out of his area in an attempt to shepherd the ball to safety, but found himself under pressure from the onrushing Stansfield.
Before the ball had crossed the line into his penalty area, the Charlton goalkeeper, no doubt worried by the presence of the attacker, dived on the ball with it still outside his area.
That led to frantic appeals from the Birmingham contingent, with head coach Chris Davies receiving a yellow card after the incident went unpunished.
Now, Hackett has given his verdict on why that particular handball claim played out in the way that it did.
Keith Hackett reacts to Birmingham City appeal against Charlton
Giving his reaction to that incident to Football Insider, the former referee said:
“For me he’s handled outside, he pulled it back in. One of the things that I would just highlight is that the line itself is the penalty area.
“So the referee’s got to be very clear that the ball is outside the penalty area. It looked to me as though the ball was outside the penalty area and he pulled it in.
“But the referee’s got to be absolutely clear, he can’t guess, and I think this is just about the worst position on the field of play for the referee and an assistant to judge.
“The assistant is not going to be able to give it because he’s looking at it flat on, the referee’s diagonal, which is moving towards the outer post rather than the area in which the potential offence takes place.
“So it’s a difficult one. Years ago in UEFA this is why they had the additional assistant behind the goal and that’s one of the things that he would patrol, as the ball’s coming down the wing, he’d move to a position looking down the outer edge of the penalty area to detect.
“It looks as though he’s handled. The reality is this: one you cannot guess, and if you look at it, in good refereeing terms the benefit of the doubt goes to the defender.
“So I think putting myself in the eyes of the referee, he’s not got total confidence if you like vision, as to whether it’s outside, he’s not going to guess, he’s given the benefit of the doubt to the goalkeeper.”
Following that win, Davies’ side are nine points clear at the top of League One, as Birmingham continue their ambitious plans that include a multi-billion pound stadium and promotion to the Premier League.
For their part Charlton are now seventh in the third-tier standings, only outside the play-off places on goal difference.