Former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett has criticized Peter Bankes for not awarding Newcastle United an obvious penalty against Nottingham Forest. Hackett highlighted the illegal wrestling down of Dan Burn by Morato, calling it a clear foul.
Bankes’ officiating was further questioned when Bruno Guimaraes’ goal was allowed to stand despite a clash with Morgan Gibbs-White. Nick Woltemade’s goal ultimately secured a 2-0 win for Newcastle, leaving Forest 17th in the Premier League.
The refereeing performance at St James’ Park was far from ideal, with Bankes facing previous criticism from the Bournemouth versus Brighton match. The decision not to award a penalty for the incident involving Burn only added to the frustration of both sets of fans.
Hackett expressed disbelief at the lack of penalty given to Newcastle and emphasized that Dan Burn’s clear foul should have resulted in a spot-kick. Despite eventual VAR involvement leading to a penalty for Newcastle, Hackett pointed out that crucial decisions like these should not be missed in top-level games.
