Ex-refs chief drops emphatic Hull City vs Sunderland penalty verdict as footage re-analysed

Hull City should have been awarded a penalty during their 1-0 defeat to Sunderland in the Carabao Cup third round on Tuesday.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that Luke O'Nien’s challenge on Robinio Vaz inside the box was a foul.

Chemsdine Talbi’s sole goal would knock Hull City out of the competition and end their unbeaten start to the campaign in all competitions.

However, the Tigers will feel aggrieved that they have not taken the match at least to penalties when O’Nien appeared to take Vaz down in the box without getting any of the ball.

VAR is not operational in the early rounds of the Carabao Cup, and could therefore not advise referee Paul Tierney to overturn the decision.

As a result, Hackett understood why Hull fans would be frustrated about the decision as they exited the Cup.

Hull City should have been awarded a penalty vs Sunderland

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett explained why he believed Hull City should have had a penalty kick.

He said: “It was a foul challenge, and I can understand the frustrations of Hull City fans.

“VAR clearly does not operate in this competition until the later stages.

“That is what clubs voted for, so they have to live with the consequences when these errors are made.”

Were Hull City unlucky to lose to Sunderland?

When examining the stats, it is clear that the game at the Stadium of Light could have gone either way.

Sunderland had 51 per cent possession, 14 shots, four on target, one big chance, a 0.98 xG and 20 touches in the opposition box.

In comparison, Hull City had 49 per cent possession, seven shots, one on target, one big chance, a 0.97 xG and 15 touches in the opposition box.

Therefore, the Tigers were perhaps unfortunate not to take the game at least to penalties against the Black Cats, especially when taking into account the penalty decision that went against them.

However, it remains to be seen if Hull can quickly bounce back from this defeat or if the recent momentum that they have picked up will now fall off after they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup.