Keith Hackett: Connor Roberts to blame for 'harsh' Wales penalty incident
03/24/2025 01:47 PM
Wales defender Connor Roberts was rightly punished for handball with the award of a penalty during his country’s World Cup qualifier with Kazakhstan, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the Burnley ace will not have thought his arm when in an unnatural position when it was hit by the ball inside his own penalty.
Craig Bellamy‘s side made a winning start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign on Saturday (22 March) with victory over Kazakhstan in Cardiff.
Wales were however made to work for that win, having been pegged back from the spot after Dan James had opened the scoring with just nine minutes on the clock.
Connor Roberts penalised over contentious handball
As the match reached the half-hour mark, it was the visitors who went in search of an equaliser, which they were given via Roberts who is also looking to help Burnley to Championship promotion this season.
A shot from just outside the area from Kazakhstan midfielder Islam Chesnokov hit the Burnley defender, who was stood just inside his own box.
| Connor Roberts vs Kazakhstan | Total (as per SofaScore) |
| Successful Passes | 74/82 |
| Duels Won | 4/7 |
| Clearances | 2 |
| Interceptions | 0 |
| Fouls | 2 |
| Penalties Coneceded | 1 |
With Roberts twisting in an attempt to block the shot, it was his arm which the ball made contact with, leading to the award of a penalty.
That spot kick was then converted by Askhat Tagybergen to level the game at 1-1 which was how things remained going into half time.
Hackett now believes that in giving a penalty against Roberts, the correct decision was reached.
Keith Hackett reacts as Wales concede penalty to Kazakhstan
After being asked by Football Insider if the decision to award a penalty against Craig Bellamy’s side was the right one, Hackett said:
“The ball’s struck the arm and in that situation he’s made his arm bigger, his body shape larger, the referee’s going to give it every day.
“This is the whole debate around what is a natural position, and that defender naturally thinks his arm’s in a natural position.
“But because he’s made his body shape wider, he’s fulfilled the criteria of the law for handball, looks harsh but that’s the law.
“I’ve said on many occasions, that I think the handball law doesn’t take into account the movement of a player, and that’s where it falls down for me.
“So in my era, that would have been ‘it’s not deliberate’. But in the modern era, where they talk about the silhouette, the player’s got his arm out and the ball’s struck: handball, correct decision.”
Ben Davies would then put the hosts back in front shortly after the break, before a first Wales goal for Rabbi Matondo just before full time sealed a 3-1 win for The Dragons.
They will now continue their World Cup qualifying on Tuesday night (25 March), with a trip to Skopje to take on North Macedonia.
The post Keith Hackett: Connor Roberts to blame for 'harsh' Wales penalty incident appeared first on Football Insider.
