Exclusive: Ref Bond ‘high-risk’ after Coady penalty blunder in Brighton v Leicester
Darren Bond appears to “lack confidence” after relying on VAR to make a penalty decision against Leicester defender Conor Coady in the 2-2 draw with Brighton, according to Keith Hackett.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the official still has some way to go to establish himself as a Select Group 1 referee and would now be at risk of demotion during Hackett’s tenure.
Brighton opened the scoring through Liverpool target Joao Pedro, before Leicester responded after a calamitous Lewis Dunk error.
Once again, it was the Brazilian striker who gave the Seagulls the lead from the penalty spot, but once again, the Foxes fought back, with Caleb Okoli scoring a fabulous diving header.
Leicester held on to earn a point against Brighton, but in an entertaining game between the two, Bond’s indecisiveness almost overshadowed proceedings.
Darren Bond hesitates on clear Conor Coady handball
With 27 minutes gone, and Leicester holding out against Brighton, Pervis Estupinan made it to the by-line, before pulling the ball back into the path of Simon Adingra.
The Ivorian, arriving late into the penalty area, struck a firm shot towards Mads Hermansen’s goal.
Coady then slid across slightly, attempting to block the shot, but got it all wrong as Adingra’s attempt struck the Englishman’s outstretched arm.
It seemed a clear penalty, yet Bond dithered, seemingly unsure of whether to call it or not.
Thankfully, Stuart Attwell on VAR came to the referee’s rescue, advising the man in charge to go and have a look at the incident on the monitor.
Even there, Bond was indecisive, spending minutes pouring over the incident, watching replay after replay, before finally arriving at his decision.
Darren Bond ‘lacks confidence’ as VAR comes to the rescue
Having seen the incident, ex-PGMOL chief Hackett told Football Insider exclusively not only his thoughts on the decision, but how Bond’s lack of confidence may be looked at by PGMOL, and what his future may hold as a Premier League referee, saying:
“I am very clear that this referee appears to lack confidence and the ability to ‘sell’ his decisions.
“He should not have required VAR intervention.
“Frankly, he still has some way to go to establish his position as a Select Group 1 referee.
“What referees have to accept is that being in the SG1 group of referees is a huge honour.
| Match stats | Brighton | Leicester |
| Possession | 59% | 41% |
| Shots (on target) | 21 (7) | 15 (6) |
| Expected goals | 4.04 | 1.62 |
| Big chances (missed) | 7 (5) | 2 (1) |
| Corners | 3 | 6 |
“You have to accept with the salary that comes like any employee is that you have to do your job to the best of your ability and improve and gain a high level of consistency.
“This referee is reactive rather than proactive, and hesitation in decision-making and an over-reliance on VAR is a shortfall of the requirements of an elite referee.
“Let’s hope in the summer he receives the appropriate operational advice and starts next season in better form.
“In my era in office his re-appointment to the SG1 group would be a high risk.”