Ex-refs chief blasts 'cheating' player as Southampton-Stoke City controversy re-analysed

Keith Hackett has insisted that referee Farai Hallam was right to book Finn Azaz for simulation after his shout for a penalty in Southampton's 2-0 win over Stoke City.

The former PGMOL chief and FIFA referee exclusively told Football Insider that the Southampton playmaker did not receive enough contact from Ashley Phillips to go down in the area like he did.

Southampton emerged with a 2-0 win over Stoke at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday through strikes in each half from Azaz and Flynn Downes.

Azaz found the net in the 10th minute with a tap-in from Tom Fellows' low cross, while Downes poked a scrappy shot home just after half-time to relieve the pressure on Saints boss Tonda Eckert.

The visitors will have been pleased with their strong performance away at a playoff-chasing side, but felt as if they should have had an opportunity to win by more as Hallam waved Azaz's penalty claim away in the first-half.

Finn Azaz was booked for simulation after Ashley Phillips' challenge

Southampton felt as if they should have had a penalty early on after Maxi Talovierov hauled Jack Stephens down from a corner, but their second shout was more prominent due to the context of Azaz advancing into the area with the ball at his feet.

It was in the 29th minute when the Republic of Ireland international dribbled past Spurs loanee Phillips, who stuck a leg out and seemed to catch his opponent as he went crashing to the ground.

Hallam immediately blew his whistle, as the home fans’ held their breath, but he pointed for a free-kick to Stoke as Azaz was deemed to have dived under pressure and booked for simulation.

Replays showed that the two players' knees did brush together before Azaz went down, and Saints boss Eckert insisted that he felt his side were denied a "clear penalty."

Hackett backs Hallam's decision to book Azaz and not give a penalty

Hallam was involved in a controversial incident in Man City’s win over Wolves last week, as he decided against taking the advice of VAR to give Pep Guardiola's side a penalty for handball by Yerson Mosquera.

He found himself at the centre of attention in the Championship this weekend, but speaking exclusively to Football Insider, PGMOL expert Hackett believes that he got the Azaz simulation call spot on.

Hackett said: "This is a difficult call for the referee.

"He will have judged that there was no clarification that any contact had taken place and determined that it was an act of simulation.

"I support the referee on his decision to caution the player for an act of simulation."