Former top referee rules on this controversial West Ham v Newcastle incident | OneFootball

Former top referee Keith Hackett has been talking about this controversial moment during Monday night’s game at the London Stadium.

Eddie Howe’s side winning 1-0.

A victory that takes them back up to sixth and level on points with Man City who are fifth, two points behind Chelsea in fourth.

The big moment that decided the match in the end.

The winning goal at the London Stadium on Monday night.

Harvey Barnes clipping the ball through for Bruno to score but West Ham declaring it shouldn’t have been allowed, claiming a foul from Alexander Isak just before the goal.

Isak making slight contact with defender Man Kilman.

So what does the former top referee Keith Hackett make of that moment?

Keith Hackett speaking to West Ham Zone, the ex-FIFA referee and former PGMOL who had a very clear idea about what he saw and what was the correct decision(s) to make:

“I am witnessing the increasing number of acts of simulation to deceive the referee,” Hackett said.

“Here is another example of the player going to ground in an exaggerated fall after a slight touch in the back.

“The referee in my opinion rightly does not penalise Isak, judging correctly that a foul has not taken place.

“However, having made that decision, then why not yellow card the player who, by going to ground for an act of simulation?

“For me, it is simply cheating.”

I have to say, I completely agree with Keith Hackett. Yes, Isak did touch the defender, but not enough to make him collapse to the ground AND not nearly enough for it to rule out the penalty.

For any West Ham fans still thinking they were hard done by…

Interesting to look back and compare to what happened at St James’ Park in November.

Newcastle United fans bewildered why a penalty wasn’t given, as West Ham’s Konstantinos Mavropanos was all over Callum Wilson and clearly appeared to foul him, the NUFC striker right in front of goal.

Mavropanos, wrestled Wilson to the ground as the Newcastle United number nine went to try and head in Jacob Murphy’s cross.

The on the pitch referee Craig Pawson didn’t give the penalty.

Keith Hackett also commented after that match/incident, saying he would have given a foul, a spot-kick.

The bottom line though, was that once the referee said no penalty, then his decision was seen as subjective. He had seen the incident and (somehow!!!) saw no foul, so it was not a ‘clear and obvious’ error that VAR could intervene on. Not an incident that the on the pitch referee had missed.

So even though how appalling the referee’s decision may have been, there was nothing VAR could do about it, even if they had wanted to.

Back in late November 2024, Keith Hackett talking to West Ham Zone about that Callum Wilson penalty incident:

“Over recent years we have witnessed many incidents of grappling in the penalty area going unpunished.

“The PGMOL officials clearly only penalise when the holding is sustained and has an impact on the opponent.

“This particular incident is subjective with the on-field referee making a ‘no offence’ decision.

“His judgement from a well-positioned viewing angle.

“The VAR does not intervene because it is not a clear and obvious error, even though the West Ham United defender’s hands and arms are in contact with his opponent.

“The referee then decided there’s no offence and no penalty kick to Newcastle United.

“It is a subjective decision.

“It does not fulfil the criteria of a ‘clear and obvious error’.

“We are now seeing on a regular basis that this type of contact going unpunished.

“In my era of officiating, I would have been pointing to the penalty mark.”

West Ham 0 Newcastle 1 – Monday 10 March 8pm

(Stats via BBC Sport)

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Bruno 63

West Ham:

Possession was Newcastle 49% West Ham 51%

Total shots were Newcastle 9 West Ham 9

Shots on target were Newcastle 3 West Ham 2

Corners were Newcastle 4 West Ham 3

Touches in the box Newcastle 28 West Ham 21

Newcastle team v West Ham:

Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento, Joelinton, Tonali, Bruno (Longstaff 88), Barnes (Willock 79), Isak (Wilson 79), Murphy

Unused subs:

Dubravka, Targett, Krafth, Osula, Miley, Neave

(BBC Sport comments from ‘neutrals’ – Interesting on Newcastle United after 1-0 at West Ham – Read HERE)

(3 Positives and 3 Negatives to take from West Ham 0 Newcastle 1 – Read HERE)

(West Ham 0 Newcastle 1 – Instant Newcastle United fan/writer reaction – Read HERE)

(Match Report – Massive for Champions League AND Carabao Cup Final – West Ham 0 Newcastle 1 Read HERE)

The remaining Newcastle United match schedule:

Sunday 16 March – Newcastle v Liverpool (4.30pm) Carabao Cup final Sky Sports

Wednesday 2 April – Newcastle v Brentford (7.45pm)

Monday 7 April – Leicester v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports

Sunday 13 April – Newcastle v Man U (4.30pm) Sky Sports

Wednesday 16 April – Newcastle v Palace (7.30pm)

Saturday 19 April – Villa v Newcastle (5.30pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 26 April – Newcastle v Ipswich (3pm)

Saturday 3 May – Brighton v Newcastle TBC

Saturday 10 May – Newcastle v Chelsea TBC