Hackett reacts as Welbeck denied Brighton penalty v Forest after Arsenal fury
Brighton striker Danny Welbeck was correctly denied a penalty in their 7-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, according to Keith Hackett.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official told Football Insider that the clash between Welbeck and Nikola Milenkovic was purely “accidental.”
Fabian Hurzeler’s side saw their penalty appeals waved away in the second half after Forest centre-back Milenkovic and Welbeck clashed heads while challenging for the same ball.
The referee dismissed the claims, and VAR quickly reviewed the incident before confirming the on-field decision.
Welbeck incident for Brighton has shades of Arsenal clash
Nuno Espírito Santo’s side demolished the Seagulls at the City Ground in a statement 7-0 victory, strengthening their push for a Champions League spot.
Standout performances came from Anthony Elanga, who provided three assists, and Chris Wood, who netted a hat-trick just days after signing a new contract.
Following a shock 5-0 defeat to Bournemouth last week, this display was the perfect response, keeping them level on points with Arsenal and just six points behind league leaders Liverpool.
Brighton’s penalty appeal sparked some controversy online, as it mirrored an incident against Arsenal on 4 January. Joao Pedro was awarded a penalty after clashing heads with William Saliba while challenging for the ball.
However, this time Hurzeler’s side were denied a spot-kick, with Hackett dismissing any Arsenal comparisons as he was happy with the call.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, he said:
“I have looked at the incident, and the match officials have made the correct decision.
“It’s an accidental clash of heads. No penalty kick.”
Ultimately, even if Brighton had been awarded a penalty, it was unlikely to have changed much, as they were already 3-0 down in the first half before succumbing to a crushing 7-0 defeat. Pressure continues to mount on Hurzeler.
In other news, Brentford’s stance has been revealed over Nottingham Forest’s interest in Yoane Wissa.
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