Keith Hackett was left astounded by the decision to award Aston Villa a penalty in their recent match against Brighton, describing it as “amazing.” The contentious moment occurred when Joao Pedro was judged by VAR to have fouled Morgan Rogers while trying to clear the ball, leading to Ollie Watkins converting the penalty in the 2-2 draw on December 30th.
In an exclusive interview with Villa News, the former PGMOL chief criticized the use of VAR in this particular incident, suggesting that it was a convenient and simplistic solution for referee Craig Pawson. Hackett argued that the initial incident should have been seen as a natural action by the defender rather than an intentional foul, and placed the blame on VAR official Stuart Attwell for intervening in the decision-making process.
Hackett emphasized the necessity for VAR officials to exhibit greater accuracy in their assessments and to refrain from overly influencing the outcome of matches by re-refereeing them. He pointed out the evident confusion surrounding what constitutes a clear and obvious error in the Premier League, indicating a need for clarity and consistency in decision-making processes.
Despite the VAR controversy, Unai Emery will have been pleased to see Watkins rediscover his scoring touch, especially with Jhon Duran suspended for the team’s next two games. The contentious penalty incident has sparked further debate and scrutiny of VAR’s role in officiating football matches, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced in modern football governance.
