Keith Hackett: Why Moises Caicedo foul should have cancelled Chelsea penalty but Rodrigo Muniz wrongly punished
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Credit: TNT Sports, Imago
Oliver Walton
Sun 31 August 2025 8:00, UK
Keith Hackett has blasted VAR and referee Rob Jones after a foul was missed in the build-up to a penalty being awarded to Chelsea in their 2-0 win against Fulham.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that referee Jones and VAR failed to spot Moises Caicedo’s trip on Alex Iwobi prior to Ryan Sessegnon being penalised for handball in the hosts’ area.
The Blues’ clash against Fulham was not without controversy throughout, with numerous contentious decisions adding to an already tense atmosphere during a West London derby.
Josh King had a first-half Fulham strike ruled out for a foul by Rodrigo Muniz on Trevoh Chalobah in the build-up, and the visitors’ woes were compounded as Joao Pedro opened the scoring just before the break.
Chelsea were awarded a penalty not long into the second period for a handball by Sessegnon, which was initially not given, but then checked by VAR as Jones reviewed and pointed to the spot.
Enzo Fernandez scored his penalty as Chelsea walked away with a 2-0 win over Fulham on Saturday (30 August), but he should not have even been given the chance to step up from 12 yards according to Hackett.
(Credit Imago)
This article contains exclusive comments from ex-PGMOL chief, FIFA official and former professional referee Keith Hackett.
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Chelsea were pushing for a second goal in the 50th minute when Chalobah’s cross was handled by Sessegnon and a number of the hosts’ players begged Jones to give a penalty.
He remained unmoved as play went on, but a stoppage then saw him sent to the screen after VAR review, and he duly pointed to the spot because the Fulham defender’s body was in an unnatural position.
The Cottagers already felt hard done by after the first-half’s events and King’s disallowed goal, and they had cause to be annoyed once again as Sessegnon’s handball looked be preceded by a handball from Chelsea striker Pedro.
Not only that, but Caicedo also looked to have stamped on Iwobi’s foot before Chalobah’s cross, yet VAR were content to play past those incidents and allow Jones to give the hosts a spot-kick.
Speaking to Football Insider exclusively, ex-PGMOL chief Hackett insisted that Caicedo should have been penalised for a foul in the build up to Sessegnon’s handball, and also argued that his challenge was worse than Muniz’s on Chalobah which was given in the first-half.
He said: “There was a foul in the build up to the penalty kick decision that should have been awarded.
“Difference [to Muniz on Chalobah] here is that the player has committed the foul facing his opponent and stretching for the ball and comes into contact with his opponent.
“That is a reckless challenge – yellow card“