Exclusive: Crystal Palace denied penalty v Brentford as issue goes 'unpunished'
01/26/2025 01:18 PM
Brentford players went unpunished for holding inside the box after Crystal Palace felt they should have been awarded a penalty, according to Keith Hackett.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the right decision was ultimately made not to award a penalty to Palace, but called for officials to crack down on the issue of grappling inside the area.
On the pitch, Thomas Frank’s side found their second consecutive win on the road thanks to goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Kevin Schade, while Romain Esse found a late consolation goal for the hosts.
Mbeumo’s strike via the penalty spot was not short of controversy, either, having missed the initial spot-kick before a re-take was ordered for encroachment.
However, Hackett confirmed to Football Insider that the decision was the correct one.
Brentford avoid punishment after Crystal Palace penalty claims
Palace’s own penalty appeals came after Marc Guehi was hauled down in the box as a long throw-in was delivered by Jefferson Lerma, but referee Tony Harrington ordered the throw to be re-taken instead.
Having stopped play to warn the Brentford man about his conduct, many inside Selhurst Park felt they should have been awarded spot-kick as the ball was in play when the whistle was blown.
Hackett explained that the referee was not looking at the thrower, and his late whistle added to the controversy, but he felt there was not enough contact to award a penalty.
Instead, he applauded the “common sense” of the match official to restart play from the throw-in.
Now, he has echoed those comments despite ultimately agreeing with the decision made by Harrington not to award Palace a penalty kick.
“We continue to see grappling inside the penalty area going unpunished,” he told Football Insider.
“The referee did not have the thrower in vision so at the point he sees the Palace player go to ground and blows and indicates that the throw should not be taken he is rather late because it had been released by the thrower.
“What was in front of the referee was the usual holding by two players on each other and the Palace player goes to ground rather easily.
“It is not worthy of a penalty kick.
“The referee despite the fact that the ball had been thrown decides to have a word and order the throw to be re-taken.
“Frankly a bit of common sense shown by the referee.”
In other news, Crystal Palace set to open Jean-Philippe Mateta talks imminently.
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The post Exclusive: Crystal Palace denied penalty v Brentford as issue goes 'unpunished' appeared first on Football Insider.
