Former PGMOL Chief and Premier League referee Keith Hackett has said that officials got a major call wrong during Manchester City's 2-1 defeat against Newcastle on Sunday night. The officiating was put in the spotlight after several controversial decisions during the game.
After a goalless first half where both sides had chances to take the lead, it was the hosts who struck first thanks to Harvey Barnes' effort from outside the box. Although City levelled shortly after through Ruben Dias' deflected strike, the Newcastle winger then made sure of all three points after he capitalised on poor defending following a set-piece.
The winner was shrouded in controversy, though, and the Premier League was forced to clarify why the goal was allowed to stand after cries of offside and a foul on goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the build-up. But it's another call which has left former referee Hackett baffled.
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Hackett: Man City Should Have Had a Penalty
Manchester City's Phil Foden remonstrates with referee Samuel Barrott
Hackett believes Sam Barrott should have awarded Man City a penalty after Fabian Schar's tackle on Phil Foden. Credit: REUTERS/Scott Heppell
In the first half, there was outcry when Man City were not awarded a penalty, after Fabian Schar's sliding tackle made contact with Phil Foden's foot after the attacker took a shot. It left the England international writhing on the floor, with both referee Sam Barrott and VAR Craig Pawson ruling that no spot kick should be given.
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But ex-PGMOL chief Hackett, speaking to Football Insider, believes that not giving a penalty following the incident was a mistake, as it would have been a foul had the tackle occurred elsewhere on the pitch. He said: "Manchester City can feel aggrieved that a penalty kick was not awarded for the late challenge on Phil Foden.
"It was a foul, and the fact that Foden played the ball forward does not, in law, negate the foul.
"If this were in midfield and the player plays the ball forward and then fouled, it is a free kick. VAR should have intervened."
Rooney Agrees With Hackett's Assessment
Wayne Rooney during a commemorative ceremony at Goodison Park.
Premier League - Everton v Southampton - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - May 18, 2025 Former player Wayne Rooney on the pitch during a commemorative ceremony after the last match for the men's team at Goodison Park Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
The Premier League rulebook states that if "contact is inevitable" between an attacker and defender, then play should typically be allowed to continue. It's only when contact is "reckless" or "serious foul play" when a penalty kick should be given, along with either a yellow or red card.
Both Barrott and Pawson ruled that contact between both players was inevitable as the situation played out. But former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney believes that the contact was severe enough to merit a spot kick.
"I think it's a penalty," he told BBC Sport. "The referee might have looked at the fact he has got his shot away before the contact, but the Schar challenge has impacted Foden's set-up for the shot and then there's contact. It's a foul."
Had City been awarded a penalty for the incident, the complexion of the game could have been incredibly different. But three dropped points mean that Guardiola's side remain four points adrift of leaders Arsenal, who face Tottenham in the North London derby on Sunday.