Keith Hackett Blasts 'Poor Officiating' After Double Penalty Controversy in Tottenham vs West Ham

In a fiery critique, former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has slammed the officiating in Tottenham's clash with West Ham, labeling it as "poor officiating" amid a double penalty controversy that sparked outrage among fans and pundits.

The First Penalty Drama

The match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium saw early tension when West Ham's Crysencio Summerville went down in the box following a challenge. Referee Jarred Gillett waved play on, and VAR upheld the no-penalty call. Hackett, speaking exclusively, dissected the incident: "When you award a penalty kick, you want to be 100% certain that a foul has taken place. There is certainly a coming together of two players... the forward going to ground rather too easily." He backed the officials, arguing it was correctly denied, drawing parallels to similar non-calls in Wolves vs West Ham where he supported referee Peter Bankes.[1]

The Decisive Late Winner and Second Controversy

The game's turning point came in added time with West Ham's Callum Wilson scoring the winner from Ollie Scarles' cross amid chaos in the six-yard box. Tottenham keeper Guglielmo Vicario flapped at the ball, missing it entirely, allowing Wilson to pounce. Spurs fans cried foul, claiming interference, but Hackett defended the goal vehemently: "The referee got this one right... It’s pretty poor goalkeeping. Effectively, he’s gone for the ball, missed it, so it’s a good decision." He praised Gillett and VAR, countering critics like Tim Sherwood and Mike Dean, while noting Vicario's errors fuel rumors of his replacement.[3]

Hackett's Broader Refereeing Critique

Despite supporting these calls, Hackett blasted overall standards, highlighting a "double penalty controversy" that exposed inconsistencies. He contrasted it with cases like Arsenal's denied penalty against Nottingham Forest, where Ola Aina's deliberate handball warranted a spot-kick: "The player has deliberately moved his hand towards the ball... a penalty should have been awarded."[4][5] In West Ham's Newcastle draw, he condemned simulation as "cheating."[2]

Amid relegation battles—Thomas Frank under pressure at Spurs, Nuno Espirito Santo backed despite West Ham woes—the incident underscores Premier League VAR frustrations. Hackett's verdict: Officials navigated the chaos correctly here, but broader officiating demands scrutiny.

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