Exclusive: ‘Lucky man’ Wissa escapes red card for diving vs Fulham – Ex-FIFA ref
Keith Hackett has reacted after Brentford were denied a late penalty as they went in search of an equaliser during their defeat to local rivals Fulham.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that there was not enough in a challenge on Yoane Wissa by Kenny Tete to justify the award of a spot kick.
It was an eventful meeting between the two sides on Sunday (18 May), with Marco Silva‘s side eventually claiming a 3-2 win away from home.
There was also plenty to keep referee Jarred Gillett busy just a day after he had taken charge of the controversial FA Cup final between Crystal Palace and Man City.
Brentford denied late chance to equalise from the spot
Gillett had already angered Fulham fans by awarding one penalty to Brentford in the first half of the game, after Kevin Schade had been brought down by Joachim Andersen.
Bernd Leno had then saved the resulting spot kick from Bryan Mbeumo, to keep the score locked at 1-1 at that point in the game.
Although Wissa then scored to put the Bees 2-1 up, Tom Cairney equalised midway through the second half, before a stunning strike from Harry Wilson gave Fulham the lead with 20 minutes remaining.
| Yoane Wissa vs Fulham | Total (SofaScore) |
| Goals | 1 |
| Shots on Target | 2 |
| Shots off Target | 0 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Accurate Passes | 19/26 |
| Duels Won | 2/8 |
As Brentford then went in search of an equaliser, Wissa was left sat on the turf appealing for a penalty after contact inside the area from Tete, as a cross in the box headed in their direction.
Those appeals were turned down by Gillett, a decision which was supported by VAR on this occasion.
Hackett has also backed that call, and even suggested that Wissa could have been sent off for a second yellow card, with the Brentford striker having been booked earlier in the game.
Keith Hackett dismisses Yoane Wissa penalty claims
After being asked by Football Insider if Fulham could have conceded a penalty as a result of this incident, the former referee said:
“I think that’s interesting. I don’t think there’s a holding [offence]. I think he’s going for the push, but if you push someone they go forward, they don’t sit down, and that’s why he’s not got it.
“The position is that the ball’s going over his head and I think he’s [Wissa] decided he’s not going to get it, so he’s going to go down.
“I’m definitely not giving a penalty for that. But again the point here is, if a penalty kick’s not awarded, and he’s sat on his deck and he’s actually got his hands in the air appealing for one, and you as a referee don’t think that’s a penalty kick, then why are you not cautioning that player for an act of simulation?
“If you’re not giving a penalty kick then you’ve got to, in my opinion he’s simulating to deceive the referee, lucky man.”