'Something isn't right' - Ex PGMOL boss fumes as Mohamed Salah footage re-analysed vs Crystal Palace
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Harri Burton
Sat 27 September 2025 18:45, UK
Chris Kavanagh and Matt Donohue failed to come to the right decision over Liverpool’s equaliser against Crystal Palace.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that Federico Chiesa should have seen his goal overturned at Selhurst Park on Saturday, 27 September.
Ismaila Sarr fired Palace into the lead after just nine minutes, with Jean-Philippe Mateta missing several chances to extend their lead, and the Reds capitalised on that in the final five minutes.
That would not last for very long, as Eddie Nketiah latched onto Marc Guehi’s flick-on to fire home the winner at the back post, but Liverpool‘s goal has remained a huge talking point in Palace’s 2-1 win.
In the 87th minute, Chiesa evened up the score, but just before the goal was scored, it was evident that Mohamed Salah had handled the ball on its way into the penalty area.
Despite a lengthy VAR check, the goal was allowed to stand, leaving many fans in bemusement, and former referee Hackett has joined them in amazement at the decision.
“It is difficult to understand when you see on video replay the deliberate handball from Salah, who has made his body shape larger, reaching out to the sky,” he said exclusively to Football Insider.
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“He comes into contact with the ball, but the referee, first of all, doesn’t see it.
Something isn’t right.
Chris Kavanagh missed Mohamed Salah’s handball at Selhurst Park.
Full stop.”
Hackett wanted Kavanagh suspended following his mistake in the game between Newcastle United and Wolves earlier this month, and that is not the only refereeing error he has made.
He was also in charge of Man United‘s narrow win over Fulham, when Bruno Fernandes missed a penalty and a goal was allowed to stand despite Leny Yoro‘s push on Calvin Bassey.
It has been a very difficult start to the campaign for the PGMOL officials, and it only continues to get worse after Simon Hooper missed a blatant penalty during the game between Chelsea and Brighton.
Howard Webb needs to take action before the noise around the league’s referees gets too much, but it might already be too late for that.