Former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett has called for a new law to be implemented to prevent controversial decisions like the disallowed goal involving Nottingham Forest against Liverpool. Hackett expressed his frustration over the decision to disallow Igor Jesus’ goal, which was ruled out for a handball despite no clear evidence of an infringement.
In the incident, referee Andy Madley blew for a handball against Jesus without a proper view of the incident, and VAR chose not to intervene despite a lengthy check. Replays showed that there was no obvious handball, leading to criticism from Forest supporters and pundits.
Hackett suggested that the referee should have been called to the pitch-side monitor to review the decision, especially in cases where there is subjectivity involved. He pointed out that the ball hit Jesus on the upper shoulder, which would not constitute a handball based on current rules regarding hand and arm position.
Hackett highlighted the challenge for referees and players in interpreting handball incidents, noting that natural movements like raising arms when jumping can sometimes lead to incorrect decisions. He emphasized the need for clarity and consistency in officiating such situations to avoid contentious outcomes.
Overall, Hackett’s comments underscore the importance of ensuring fairness and accuracy in refereeing decisions, particularly in cases where technology like VAR can be utilized to review key incidents and prevent incorrect calls from impacting the outcome of matches.
