Ex-PGMOL boss backs Stoke fury after late Millwall drama

03/17/2025 01:25 PM

Stoke City can feel aggrieved about the late penalty they conceded in their defeat to Millwall, Keith Hackett has said.

The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that many offences such as the one that led to the spot kick conceded by the Potters are not consistently being punished in games.

Stoke boss Mark Robins recently saw his side beaten by Coventry after a controversial late goal that appeared to be offside.

There was then more last-minute disappointment for the 55-year-old against Millwall at The Den on Saturday (15 March).

Stoke City lose to stoppage time penalty

With the game locked at 0-0 in the third minute of second half stoppage time, a long Millwall throw in was launched into the centre of the Stoke box.

As the ball was sent in, attacker Josh Coburn went to ground on the edge of the six-yard box for the hosts, after a coming together with Potters defender Ben Willmot.

Referee Andy Davies then pointed to the penalty spot, much to the anger of the visiting side, who saw several players booked for their protestations.

Mihailo Ivanovic then converted the penalty, denying Stoke another important point as they look to stay clear of the Championship relegation zone.

After the game Robins was far from happy, suggesting his side should not have been penalised, and that Coburn had been the one to initiate the contact.

Now, Hackett does have sympathy with the Potters manager over this incident, suggesting it is rare to see them penalised in the way this one was.

Keith Hackett reacts to Mark Robins’ frustrations

After being asked by Football Insider if Stoke had a right to be angry about the penalty awarded against them, the former referee said:

“I think that we see this types of challenges as being almost part of the game now, going unpunished, and when a referee suddenly decides that he’s seen it and he’s going to punish it, it all kicks off to some degree.

“On the face of it you can justify that it’s a foul, but for me, we’re seeing this day in day out in football going unpunished so he’s gone hunting, the referee.

“For me I think in law he can justify it, in officiating a game with such an important decision I’m not so sure.

“So I think it is harsh because we see these types of incidents day in day out in football not going punished.”

Stoke will look to bounce back from this late defeat after the international break when they host QPR on 29 March, while Millwall will travel to Sunderland on the same day.

The post Ex-PGMOL boss backs Stoke fury after late Millwall drama appeared first on Football Insider.