‘This is what I hope the FA do after pitch invasion as Macclesfield shock Crystal Palace’
The FA must turn a blind eye to the pitch invasion at the Leasing.com Stadium after Macclesfield stunned Crystal Palace in the FA Cup.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that the club in the sixth tier of English football should not be punished by the authorities.
Oliver Glasner is under incredible pressure after the Eagles fell to a historic defeat to John Rooney, brother of Wayne, and his players, promoting the “greatest cup competition in the world”.
Palace were without Jean-Philippe Mateta, but even if the striker had been available, the Silkmen were truly incredible against Premier League opposition to reach the fourth round on Saturday, 10 January.
Macclesfield should not be punished after FA Cup magic vs Crystal Palace
At full-time, the home supporters poured onto the pitch, and that always brings fears of a possible sanction.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the potential of Macclesfield being punished for their pitch invasion against Palace, the former referee was very adamant in his response.
“This is a game that underpins why the FA Cup is the greatest cup competition in the world. The match officials contributed in a positive manner and delivered the game without any controversy,” he said.
“There is a tradition in this cup that, when the underdogs win in the fashion that Macclesfield did against a Premier League team, the fans just want to celebrate. Let the club have its day.
“The fans played a major part in ensuring this game was able to take place, clearing snow off the pitch, and this morning, clearing snow and ice from around the perimeter of the stadium to ensure that the turnstiles were passed by the safety officer.
“I hope that the FA take no action after this club and its fans and players promoted the strengths of the FA Cup.”
How did Oliver Glasner react to being knocked out of the FA Cup?
Unsurprisingly, Glasner was brutally honest after the full-time whistle, laying into his players after being knocked out by a team in the sixth tier of English football.
Speaking to the press, he said: “We had no kind of quality today, and I saw no one who could win a dribble. Then conceding set goals and timing in the header.
“If you can’t create clear chances, it is a lack of quality that we have shown today. We deserved to lose.”
Even with Brennan Johnson, Will Hughes, and Tyrick Mitchell brought on at half-time, the home side were by far the better team, and they were unlucky to lose their clean sheet at the death.
Yeremy Pino fired home a free-kick in the 90th minute, but even the commentators said that the Spaniard had offered very little else during the game, and that summed up the Eagles’ afternoon.