The latest Manchester United news after Manchester City drew the Manchester derby 0-0 at Old Trafford, during which Alejandro Garnacho was denied a potential penalty
The former Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) general manager Keith Hackett believes Manchester United should have been awarded a penalty during the Manchester derby.
Hackett has highlighted the incident where Manchester City defender Ruben Dias brought down Alejandro Garnacho inside the opening minute as incorrect.
The referee, John Brooks, awarded a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area at Old Trafford, with the video assistant Paul Tierney not changing that decision.
United players appealed for a penalty, only to be waved away by Brooks. However, Hackett claims they had a point in their vocal protestations for a spot-kick.
“It was a close call, he told Football Insider, “and that initial contact appears to be just outside the area – the speed of the player moves the incident closer to the line, which is, of course, then deemed inside.
“I’ve had the opportunity of looking closely at the replays shown by beIN Sports. The quality of their technical equipment gives clarity to that early decision in the Manchester derby.
“Referee John Brooks, close to the incident, waved away appeals for a penalty kick. However, looking at the beIN Sports replay, evidence shows that the offence was on the line, and the outcome should have been the award of a penalty kick.
“Technology on these tight decisions is essential, allowing VAR Tierney to make the correct call, rather than the inaccurate intervention and result.”
That verdict from Hackett differed from the one expressed by his former colleague Mike Dean.
Dean said during the Sky commentary of the match: “I think it’s a good on-field call by John Brooks; he’s waited a couple of seconds to see if it can be passed to the right wing, but it hasn’t, so he pulls it back.
“For me, it’s just outside so the right call, a good call at this early stage of the game.”
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