Keith Hackett slams ‘appalling’ Wales officials in Dan James and Alioski incident
Wales were denied a penalty in their World Cup qualifying clash with North Macedonia after some “appalling” officiating, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the referee made a “clear and obvious error” by not penalising a foul on Leeds United winger Dan James.
Wales needed a late David Brooks equaliser to snatch a point in the second game of their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign in North Macedonia on Tuesday night (25 March).
Things could have been different though, had Craig Bellamy‘s side been given the right penalty decision earlier on in the game.
Dan James misses out on penalty despite apparent foul
Shorlty before half time, with the score still locked at 0-0, James looked to build on his goal from Wales’ 3-1 over Kazakhstan on Saturday (22 March).
The Leeds winger was recently on the end of a challenge that led to QPR ace Koiki Saito being sent off, and he ought to have drawn more punishment for an opponent in this match as well.
Picking up the ball on the right wing, the 27-year-old drove into the North Macedonia penalty area, as he looked to create an opening.
| World Cup Qualifying Group J | Played | GD | Points |
| 1. North Macedonia | 2 | +3 | 4 |
| 2. Wales | 2 | +2 | 4 |
| 3. Kazakhstan | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 4. Belgium | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5. Lichtenstein | 2 | -5 | 0 |
However, James was then brought to ground after being caught in a caught between two oppositon defenders in the form of Tihomir Kostadinov and former Leeds star Ezgjan Alioski.
Despite some questions over whether a penalty should have been awarded, French referee Jeroma Brisard chose not to point to the spot, with VAR also electing not to intervene to award Wales a penalty.
Now, Hackett has slammed the officiating of those involved over this particular decision.
Keith Hackett reacts to Wales penalty appeals vs North Macedonia
After being asked by Football Insider whether Wales and James should have been awarded a penalty for that challenge, the former referee said:
“This is a nailed on penalty kick, James having been brought down in the penalty area by a clear foul. Is VAR sleeping on the job?
“The referee fails to point to the penalty mark, it is a clear and obvious error and the whole point of having VAR in operation is rectify these blatant errors.
“Wales and their fans have every right to be aggrieved, it’s an appalling miss.”
James and his international teammates will resume their World Cup qualifying campaign in June with games at home to Lichtenstein and away to Belgium.