Hackett slams 'cheating' in shock at Lucas Bergvall incident at Fulham v Tottenham
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Tottenham not being awarded a penalty in their 2-0 defeat to Fulham moments before they conceded the second goal has left Keith Hackett shocked.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider he is “amazed” that VAR did not intervene after a trip by Calvin Bassey on Lucas Bergvall.
Spurs slumped to yet another Premier League defeat this season on Sunday (16 March) as they were beaten 2-0 by Marco Silva’s side at Craven Cottage.
Following the game, manager Ange Postecoglou was involved in an exchange of words with a Fulham fan.
Meanwhile, other supporters have suggested that the likes of Silva or Thomas Frank could do a better job at Tottenham.
Postecoglou though may feel his side were unlucky not to get the chance to equalise in that game moments before the hosts doubled their advantage.
Lucas Bergvall denied penalty after Calvin Bassey clash
Earlier in the game, Postecolgou’s side were fortunate not to give away a penalty of their own when Tottenham full-back Djed Spence pushed Raul Jimenez inside the area.
On that occasion Hackett felt a theatrical fall did not help the case of the Fulham attacker and his hopes of winning a penalty.
The game would remain locked at 0-0 until the 78th minute when substitute Rodrigo Muniz fired Fulham in front.
Shortly after, Bergvall broke into the Fulham box and went down after being tripped by Bassey, with the Spurs man falling in a rather exaggerated manner.
Referee Andy Madley did not point to the spot, with VAR also electing not to overturn that decision, and moments later Ryan Sessegnon netted a second goal to seal the three points for Fulham.
| Tottenham last five games | Result |
| Man City (H) | Lost 1-0 |
| AZ Alkmaar (A) | Lost 1-0 |
| Bournemouth (H) | Drew 2-2 |
| AZ Alkmaar (H) | Won 3-1 (won 3-2 on aggregate) |
| Fulham (A) | Lost 2-0 |
Now, Hackett has stated that Tottenham should have been awarded a penalty for the incident, while suggesting the way Bergvall went to ground did not help his cause.
That he feels, means footballers should move away from such reactions to challenges, as that may now be costing them when it comes to the award of penalties and free kicks.
Keith Hackett assesses Tottenham penalty appeal
Speaking to Football Insider about the decision not to award Spurs a penalty for this alongside that earlier clash between Jimenez and Spence that saw Fulham denied a spot kick, the former referee said:
“In this second incident we see a player (Bergvall) dribbling into the penalty box with the ball and he is tripped, it’s very clear that he’s tripped.
“But again he’s gone to ground with degree of exaggeration. Sadly this was another penalty kick that should have been awarded which was not awarded because the match officials thought this was an act of simulation.
“They were wrong! It was a foul, it should have resulted in a penalty kick. So my plea to football is clean up your act.
“Stop these areas of cheating by way of diving, simulating that they’ve been poleaxed in some instances. Let’s get back to some degree of honesty where a foul is a foul, the referee recognises it rather than making it very difficult for match officials.
“Now on this second one I have to say, we’ve got VAR and I find it amazing that VAR didn’t come in, on either of these in fairness.”
Following that defeat Tottenham are 14th in the Premier League table, 11 points and six positions behind Fulham as the Cottagers pursue a European place.
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