Hackett: Sheffield United man 'lucky' over Cardiff City controversy

01/13/2025 06:07 AM

Sheffield United goalkeeper Adam Davies was “lucky” not to be penalised for an elbow during his side’s FA Cup defeat to Cardiff City.

The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the 32-year-old could have conceded a penalty kick for the incident.

Cian Ashford’s 19th minute strike was enough to knock Chris Wilder’s side out of the competition at Bramall Lane on Thursday night (9 January) in a 1-0 defeat.

Hackett though, feels things could have been worse for Sheffield United in the wake of Davies’ action.

Sheffield United man blasted for elbow incident against Cardiff

With 86 minutes on the clock, Davies comfortably caught a corner that was sent into his penalty area from a Cardiff player.

As the Sheffield United goalkeeper then looked to launch a counter-attack, opposition midfielder Alex Robertson moved across to the Welshman in an attempt to stop him doing so quickly.

Davies responded by directing an arm and elbow in the direction of the Cardiff man, leaving him questioning whether the goalkeeper should have been punished.

While referee Adam Herczeg elected not to take action on the field, Hackett believes the 32-year-old was fortunate not see any reciminations.

Speaking to Football Insider about the incident, the former referee said:

“He’s lucky to escape a penalty kick, you can’t do that. Ok he’s fending off a defender or player that’s in his path, but when you raise your elbow, at shoulder level, then you’re not doing that keep the ball, you’re doing that with intent on your opponent.

“So for me I think he’s very fortunate that probably the referee was running upfield to get to the dropping zone and missed out on this.”

Having been eliminated from the competition, Sheffield United will not turn their focus back to the Championship promotion race and January transfer window.

Football Insiderunderstands the Blades are in advanced talks to sign Hamza Choudhury from Leicester City.

Wilder’s side are currently third in the Championship table, just one point behind league leaders Leeds United.

In other news, a Championship club have moved to sign a Kilmarnock striker.

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The post Hackett: Sheffield United man 'lucky' over Cardiff City controversy appeared first on Football Insider.