Man City news: Ex-Fifa official hits back at Gary Neville after Julian Alvarez flashpoint
Man City striker Julian Alvarez fully deserved the penalty he received in Argentina's 3-0 win over Croatia in the World Cup semi-finals last week (13 December), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic was guilty of dangling his leg out and knew exactly what he was doing.
Alvarez was played in behind the Croatia defence and was clattered by Livakovic just after he got his shot away.
The referee immediately pointed to the spot and VAR backed up his decision and judged that no clear and obvious error had been made.
ITV pundits Ian Wright, Roy Keane and Gary Neville all disagreed with the referee's decision while Peter Walton defended the official.
"I've been critical of Peter Walton but he's spot on about this," Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
"This was a foul by the goalkeeper and what convinced me about this was the positioning of his right leg. If you watch the goalkeeper's right leg, he just hangs it out there.
"It was like he was thinking 'If I can't get you this way, I'm going to get you the other way'.
"For me, Peter could have clarified it by saying 'Look, the goalkeeper's guilty of using his right leg to bring the player down'.
"I don't think it was iffy. I was listening to what was being said and thinking 'Hang on a minute, this is a foul, it's a careless challenge by a goalkeeper'. It's a penalty kick every day.
"The right leg is already dangling, it's already out and it's a penalty kick. I thought the referee got it spot on."