Ex-PGMOL boss: Jay Rodriguez 'dived' to con referee for Wrexham penalty v Exeter

03/31/2025 11:58 AM

Wrexham should not have been given a penalty in their latest win over Exeter City, Keith Hackett has said.

The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that Jay Rodriguez should have been booked for diving when he actually won that spot kick for his side.

Wrexham continued their quest for a third consecutive promotion with a 2-0 win over the Grecians at St James Park on Saturday (29 March).

Exeter manager Gary Caldwell recently claimed he is more harshly treated by referees because of his accent, and he will not have been happy with the decision that went against his side here either.

Exeter City fume as Jay Rodriguez wins and scores spot kick

The visitors had taken a 1-0 lead into half time in that game, after Ollie Rathbone had converted midway through the first half.

With an hour on the clock, Wrexham were then given the chance to double their advantage from the spot, when a free kick into the Exeter area found the feet of Rodriguez.

After a loose first touch, the striker moved to bring the ball back under control, but went to ground after a challenge from opposition defender Jack McMillan.

That prompted referee Alex Chilowicz to point to the spot, although replays showed there had been minimal contact on the striker if any.

Rodriguez scored his Wrexham goal in the win over Stockport the previous week, converting on the rebound after his initial penalty had been saved.

This time though the 35-year-old did not need a second chance, blasting the ball beyond Exeter goalkeeper Joe Whitworth to make it 2-0 and put his side well on their way to victory.

Hackett though, believes that Rodriguez should have been punished for a dive rather than been awarded a penalty, for the way he went to ground in the area.

‘Wrexham striker lucky to avoid yellow card for simulation’ – Keith Hackett

After being asked what he made of the decision to award a penalty to Wrexham for that foul on Rodriguez, the former referee told Football Insider:

“They go to ground so easily, you cannot see definitely that there’s contact. [It’s an] act of simulation, no penalty kick, the player’s dived [in an] act of simulation. Should’ve got a caution not a penalty kick, the referee’s been conned.”

Wrexham will next be in action when they travel to the Abbey Stadium to face League One strugglers Cambridge United on Tuesday night (1 April).

Meanwhile, Exeter, who are currently nine points clear of the League One relegation zone, will be in action on the same evening when they go to Oakwell to take on Barnsley.

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