(Credit: Sky Sports, EFL)

Oliver Walton

Sat 16 August 2025 15:07, UK

Former FIFA referee Keith Hackett has brandished the decision to award a penalty to Derby for handball by Coventry defender Bobby Thomas as incorrect.

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The two sides enjoyed an end-to-end first-half in an all-Midlands clash at Pride Park on Saturday (16 August), with Thomas nodding his side into the lead early on before Callum Elder levelled it for the Rams.

USA international Haji Wright soon dispatched a spot-kick in the 25th minute to put Frank Lampard’s side back into the lead, and Coventry looked set to end the half on top before referee Anthony Backhouse gave the hosts a penalty in added time just before the interval.

(Credit Imago)

He pointed to the spot for the second time in the game for a handball by Thomas, but the Coventry players were incensed at the call and claimed that the defender had been pushed into the ball by Derby’s Matt Clarke.

Carlton Morris stepped up to score his second goal in as many games for the Rams to send them into the half level at 2-2, but the Sky Blues players remained unconvinced.

This article contains exclusive comments from ex-PGMOL chief, FIFA official and former professional referee Keith Hackett.

Thomas, who had put his side into the lead early on, jumped up to defend a cross by Ryan Nyambe in the 45th minute, but saw the ball clip the top of his hand rather than heading it away to safety.

(Credit Imago)

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It certainly looked like a penalty on first viewing, but the Sky Blues players surrounded referee Backhouse and demanded the decision to be overturned due to Clarke’s role in the offence.

The Rams centre-back was jumping behind Thomas to try and connect with the ball and score, and did look to have made contact with his back prior to the Sky Blues’ man jumping, in turn potentially making him raise his hand to the ball.

It ultimately didn’t cost Lampard’s men who went on to win a goal-fest 5-3 but it appears they were harshly treated in that incident.

Former FIFA referee Hackett has insisted to Football Insider that the referee should not have given a penalty to Derby after the incident, with Clarke deemed to have pushed Thomas in the back prior to the handball.

He said: “When you are judging a push in these circumstances you are looking at the arms of the alleged offender.

You are in particular looking at a bent arm straightening in a pushing action.”

“This is not a penalty kick for me and the referee has judged it incorrectly.