Hackett Exclusive: Brentford penalty ‘soft’ as Fulham fans rage at Jarred Gillett
Keith Hackett has given his verdict on a the penalty awarded to Brentford after Fulham fans were left fuming at the decision.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider he believed the referee had made the correct decision, even if he believed it was a tight one.
On Saturday (17 May), Gillett had been in charge of VAR for the FA Cup final between Crystal Palace and Man City at Wembley.
That had seen him forced to rule on several controversial decisions, such as the yellow card for goalkeeper Dean Henderson for handling the ball outside his area.
It was a quick turnaround for the official, who then took charge on the pitch as Brentford hosted Fulham on Sunday (18 May), where he found himself in the midst of more controversy.
Kevin Schade wins penalty off Joachim Andersen
After Raul Jimenez had put the Cottagers ahead early in that match, Bryan Mbeumo equalised for Thomas Frank’s side midway through the first half.
The Cameroon international was then given the chance to double his and his side’s tally moments later, after Kevin Schade went down in the box following a challenge from Joachim Andersen.
| Bryan Mbeumo 2024/25 stats | Total (Transfermarkt) |
| Appearances | 41 |
| Goals | 19 |
| Assists | 9 |
| Yellow Cards | 3 |
| Red Cards | 0 |
Replays though suggested contact was minimal, prompting Fulham fans to brand Gillett “shocking” and a “disgrace” for giving the spot kick.
Hackett though, believes that while it may have been a “soft” call, the referee did still make the right decision.
‘Brentford rightly get penalty amid Fulham frustration’ – Keith Hackett
After being asked by Football Insider what he made of the decision to award that penalty to Brentford, the former referee said:
“What’s happened here is the defender has got the wrong side of the attacker and the referee’s looking down it and any form of contact in that situation, he’s going to point to the penalty mark.
“Yes it’s soft but it’s also careless from the defender to get himself into that position and expose himself to committing an offence that’s going to give a penalty kick.
“So yes, it’s soft but it’s a foul by the nature of what has taken place. I think what you’ve also got here is in Gillett, the referee, you’ve got a referee who does apply the laws of the game.
“We’ve seen with other referees, his colleagues, almost allowing a holding down and innocuous type challenges before they point to the penalty mark, and sometimes they don’t even point to the penalty mark.
“They’re looking for VAR to intervene. The VAR cannot intervene on this one because it’s not a clear and obvious error and it’s the referee’s call, defender at fault.”
Ultimately, Mbeumo would see his subsequent spot kick saved by Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno, with the Cottagers going on to win a dramatic game 3-2.