Keith Hackett Makes His Feelings Clear Over Controversial Zrinjski Mostar Penalty Decision vs Crystal Palace

Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has strongly criticized a controversial penalty decision in the Europa League match between Crystal Palace and Zrinjski Mostar. Hackett, a respected ex-official with nearly two decades of experience, described the referee's call as "utter garbage" and a "clear and obvious" penalty that should have been awarded to Crystal Palace[1][3].

The incident occurred during a tense Europa League fixture where Zrinjski Mostar faced Crystal Palace. In a key moment inside the penalty area, a Zrinjski defender appeared to drag down a Palace player—mirroring a similar controversy Hackett previously slammed involving Virgil van Dijk pulling Marc Guehi against Liverpool. Referee and VAR officials opted against awarding the spot-kick, leaving Palace fans and pundits furious[1].

Hackett's Furious Reaction

In his outspoken column, the 80-year-old Hackett expressed shock that the on-field decision stood. "It was a clear and obvious penalty," he blasted, arguing that Crystal Palace under manager Oliver Glasner were hard done by[1]. Hackett didn't hold back on VAR either, labeling their failure to intervene as "pathetic" and contrary to the technology's purpose of correcting clear errors[1].

His comments echo past rants, including calling a non-penalty for Palace against Liverpool "pure garbage" and questioning VAR over a potential Mo Salah handball in another Palace-Liverpool clash[2][3]. Hackett suggested deeper issues like "relationship problems or technical problems" within the VAR system, urging better accountability[2].

Broader Implications for Officiating

Hackett's verdict highlights ongoing VAR frustrations in high-stakes games. He believes such oversights undermine the sport's integrity, especially when replays show deliberate fouls or handballs going unpunished[2]. Crystal Palace's European campaign hangs in the balance, with this decision potentially proving costly. Fans and analysts await further review, but Hackett's clear stance—that Palace were robbed—fuels the debate[1][3].

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