Keith Hackett settles Abdukodir Khusanov debate after Chelsea vs Man City controversy
Abdukodir Khusanov was correctly not punished for a tangle with Jorrel Hato during the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester City.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that the Blues' No.21 attempted to win a penalty rather than get a shot off at Wembley Stadium.
In the 78th minute, with the Citizens only ahead by a single Antoine Semenyo goal, Calum McFarlane's side were pushing hard for an equaliser, which they believed should have come from the spot.
Khusanov, who is known for his no-nonsense defending and use of strong force, attempted to shoulder-barge his opposition, though supporters are adamant that it should have been a Chelsea penalty instead.
Jorrel Hato told to be stronger in battle with Abdukodir Khusanov
Hackett seemingly disagrees with the West London contingent, though.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the defender's challenge, the former referee said: “One of the problems here is the movement of the attacking player, and it’s happening rather frequently.
“Rather than continue running on that line and getting a shot away, it’s almost like the better option is to fall to one side in an attempt to win a penalty.
| Abdukodir Khusanov vs Chelsea | Stats [FotMob] |
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Touches | 75 |
| Passing accuracy | 92% (58/63) |
| Successful dribbles | 100% (1/1) |
| Tackles | 1 |
| Clearances | 7 |
| Ground duels won | 67% (2/3) |
| Fouls committed | 1 |
“If this penalty kick had been given, it would have been extremely harsh. You have to take into account what referees are currently doing.
“They talk about this ‘sustained’ pushing, or a push that has an impact. The easy option would have been to award a penalty, but we’ve seen them not awarded when pushing has been greater.”
Man City defender is ready for a bigger role moving forward
It is not the first time that Khusanov has been at the centre of a contentious decision, having only received a yellow card for what many believed would be a sending off against Brentford in December.
However, it has all been part of a steep learning curve for the Uzbekistan international. And whether Pep Guardiola stays at the Etihad this summer or not, he's set for a much bigger role at the club.
Nathan Ake's future is uncertain, with many links with a move across the Premier League, and Keith Wyness told Football Insider that Everton have held talks over signing John Stones on a free transfer.
Marc Guehi will be the leading figure moving forward, but with Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol both available now, Khusanov will still need to fight for his position in the starting lineup.