Gabriel Jesus: Pundit issues ‘shocking’ verdict as Man City controversy analysed
Kevin Campbell has slammed the “consistency of refereeing” after Man City striker Gabriel Jesus was denied a penalty in the first half of a 2-2 draw at West Ham on Sunday.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Arsenal and Everton star said the officiating in the Premier League has been “shocking” this season.
As shown on Sky Sports (15 May), Jesus appealed for a penalty following contact from West Ham defender Kurt Zouma in the opening stages of their Premier League clash at the London Stadium.
Referee Anthony Taylor did not deem the contact as sufficient for a penalty and VAR official John Brooks deemed there to have been no clear and obvious error.
Campbell suggested the decision was “a 50/50” and would not have been overturned by VAR if initially given.
“Listen, I have seen those given and I have not seen them given,” he told Football Insider.
“It was a 50/50. It was one of those were it would have stood had the penalty have been given.
“Zouma did make contact with his leg. Was there enough contact? Was there enough in it? Not for me.
“If the referee had pointed to the spot I would have understood why though. This is the problem that we have these days. The consistency of refereeing is shocking. We don’t know if we are coming or going with VAR.
“The fact of the matter is it was not given.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire has claimed Uefa could use Man City to revive ‘big-money’ Super League proposal.