Ex-PGMOL chief worries for football after incorrect penalty decision in Chelsea defeat vs Fulham

Ex-PGMOL Chief Keith Hackett Worries for Football After Incorrect Penalty in Chelsea's Defeat to Fulham

Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has expressed deep concerns for the state of football following a controversial penalty decision that contributed to Chelsea's defeat against Fulham. Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett criticized the referee's call as "really soft" and not warranting a spot-kick, highlighting ongoing issues with officiating accuracy.[1][2]

The incident occurred during Chelsea's match against Fulham, where a penalty was awarded against the Blues, ultimately leading to their loss. Hackett, a former FIFA referee, rages over the decision, arguing it exemplifies broader problems in Premier League refereeing. He emphasized that penalties should only be given when officials are "100 per cent certain," a threshold he believes was not met here. This mirrors his recent comments on a similar "soft" penalty in Wolves' 3-0 win over West Ham, where referee Peter Bankes awarded a spot-kick to Hwang Hee-Chan despite minimal contact.[1]

In the Wolves vs. West Ham game, Hwang converted the penalty after an incident involving Yerson Mosquera, though Hackett deemed it too lenient and unlikely to sway the result. He told Football Insider's The Final Whistle: "I didn’t think it was a penalty. I thought it was too soft." Hackett worries such decisions erode trust in VAR and on-field officials, potentially harming the game's integrity amid rising scrutiny on PGMOL.[1][2]

Hackett's critique underscores systemic officiating flaws, calling for higher standards to protect competitive fairness. As ex-head of Professional Game Match Officials Limited, his voice carries weight, urging reforms before controversies further damage fan confidence. The Chelsea-Fulham blunder, like the Wolves case, reignites debates on consistency, with Hackett surprised by the haste in both rulings.[1][2]

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