‘What more do you want?’ – Ex-refs chief alarmed as ‘suspicious’ Amad Diallo footage re-analysed vs Nottingham Forest
Darren England and VAR missed a clear penalty decision involving Amad Diallo that might have cost Nottingham Forest all three points against Man United.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that Amad should have been punished for a handball inside the penalty area.
Amad should have been awarded a penalty against Brighton, and the 23-year-old was heavily involved once again as Forest and Man United played out a 2-2 draw at the City Ground on Saturday, 1 November.
Casemiro opened the scoring after the awarding of a controversial corner kick, with Morgan Gibbs-White and Nicolo Savona turning the tables, before Amad netted a fantastic goal from outside the box.
Nottingham Forest not awarded clear penalty shout vs Man United
In the 71st minute, Amad challenged Murillo inside the penalty area for a high ball, and despite getting above his opponent, there was clear contact with his arm and the ball.
Although the contact started above the shirt line, there is no denying that the contact carried on down the arm before flicking off the Man United star’s arm, but shouts landed on deaf ears at the City Ground.
Just 10 minutes, the guilty party was firing home the equaliser, which would force the points to be shared, rather than Sean Dyche grabbing his first Premier League win since being appointed.
Re-analysing the footage, Hackett simply could not believe that a spot-kick had not been awarded, and that both referee and VAR official were at fault in this situation.
Darren England and Tim Robinson to blame for controversial call
Hackett spoke exclusively to Football Insider, saying: “I said it at the time, that for me, it is handball and a penalty kick. What more do you want when the ball rolls down, and the player almost attempts to punch it?
“The referee is ideally placed, so what’s he looking at? It’s an easy decision. It’s handball. He’s flicked at it, and the ball is in contact with the arm and hand.
“I don’t know what the referee is watching. He must have been looking at something else, and then VAR doesn’t come in, clearly not thinking it’s clear and obvious. You have to be suspicious about it all. I just find it alarming.”