Ex-FIFA official apologises to Haiti as Scotland 'very fortunate' in penalty controversy
Hibernian's Grant Hanley should have handed Haiti a lifeline during their 1-0 defeat to Scotland at the 2026 World Cup.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that the World's No.83 nation have "grounds for complaint" after a controversial handball incident.
John McGinn smashed home the all-important goal on Sunday, 14 June, sealing the win, but it is being argued that the points should have been shared instead.
In the 78th minute, Wolves' Jean-Ricner Bellegarde unleashed a shot from outside the area, which clearly struck Hanley's arm, sending it out for a corner.
Nothing came of the situation, but after full-time, fans and players alike were adamant that Haiti should have been awarded a spot-kick in the closes stages of the game.
Reviewing the footage, Hackett came to the same conclusion as those furious with the outcome, even apologising to the Haitians for the decision.
Grant Hanley guilty of handball in Scotland vs Haiti
It would have been just the second penalty of the competition, until Kai Havertz netted one for Germany, and what an important one it would have been.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: "We see that his left arm is out and he's coming down towards the ball. It clearly strikes his hand and arm.
"I think Scotland are very fortunate that it wasn't called by the VAR for the referee to go to the screen. Had the referee gone to the screen, because of the position of the hand, I don't think he would have been left with any other option than to award a penalty kick.
"So, I think that Haiti had grounds for complaint on that one. We know the difficulties of handball, and I've no doubt that that will have been discussed with the group of referees at their training camps prior to the World Cup starting.
"His arm is out. I think he's got sufficient distance in which to react. For me, that's a penalty kick, sorry."
Scotland defender caught in another penalty incident
It was not the only penalty shout in the Scot's narrow victory, and Hanley was involved yet again, using his hand to block a goal-bound shot.
Six minutes before his other block, the Hibernian centre-half dangled his arm out inside the penalty area, blocking a shot from Ruben Providence.
At the very least it should have been another corner for Haiti, who racked up four before the full-time whistle, but a penalty being awarded could have been argued as well.
Steven Clarke's side appear to have gotten extremely fortunate, which could have massive impacts on the rest of Group C after the 1-1 draw between Brazil and Morocco.