‘It should have been punished’ – Ex-refs chief stunned as ‘dangerous’ Brighton vs West Ham footage re-analysed
Simon Hooper failed to use “common sense” during a major decision as Brighton drew 1-1 with West Ham on Sunday.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that the Seagulls should have seen their equaliser stripped away on 7 December.
Jarrod Bowen was hammered against Liverpool, mainly for his failures as captain when Lucas Paqueta was sent off, but the winger was back to his very best when scoring the opener at the Amex Stadium.
Crysencio Summerville returned from injury, but it was far from the former Leeds United star’s finest display, with the away supporters left fuming after Brighton‘s last-gasp equaliser.
Georginio Rutter causes chaos with his stoppage-time equaliser vs West Ham
In the first minute of added time, Charalampos Kostoulas saw his bicycle kick blocked, before Jan Paul van Hecke slid the ball to Georginio Rutter, who fired under a helpless Alphonse Areola.
To make matters even more confusing, the initial shot appeared to be blocked by Rutter’s arm, but it was Kostoulas’ high boot that caused the most controversy.
Konstantinos Mavropanos has become a key player since being linked with a West Ham exit, and it was the Greek international who led the protestations after his head was met with a flying boot in the build-up.
Despite a VAR check, the goal was allowed to stand, leaving many of the Hammers fans in complete disbelief, and Nuno Espirito Santo has called for clarity. Even the former head of the PGMOL was stunned.
Simon Hooper misses ‘dangerous play’ during Brighton’s goal
Hackett, exclusively speaking to Football Insider on The Final Whistle, said: “It shouldn’t have gotten to the second one [foul], because that boot must have brushed his face. That’s got to be dangerous play.
“It should have been punished, and there’s no question that it was a sanction. The handball was a relatively easy decision. We’ll see clip and clip justifying the decision, no doubt.
“But in football and refereeing, there has to be common sense. If it looks right, it’s right. If it looks wrong, it’s wrong. That looked wrong to me straight away.
“That hesitancy puts doubt in the referee’s mind, and I’m surprised that he allowed that to pass.“