Harry Maguire guilty of holding v Tottenham
(Credit: Imago)
Keith Hackett
Wed 21 May 2025 20:47, UK
Tottenham should have had a penalty in the first half of their Europa League final against Manchester United, according to Keith Hackett.
The former PGMOL general manager believes Harry Maguire was guilty of an offence in the penalty area in the opening 10 minutes of the game at the San Mames in Bilbao.
However, German referee Felix Zwayer failed to spot the incident and VAR didn’t pick up on it either.
Ange Postecoglou
Ange Postecoglou might think Tottenham should have had a penalty v Man United. (Credit: Imago)
Maguire accused of holding Micky van de Ven
In the 10th minute, Micky van de Ven’s attempts to attack a corner were severely impeded by Maguire, who was spotted on TNT Sports holding the Tottenham defender.
Man United goalkeeper Andre Onana managed to punch clear the Spurs corner kick when the ball was over Van de Ven’s head.
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Still images of the incident clearly show Maguire with his arm around the back of Van de Ven’s neck, stopping the Dutchman for jumping for the ball.
Former Premier League and FIFA-listed referee Hackett reckons the grappling incident should have resulted in a penalty kick being awarded to Tottenham.
“Oh dear. That is a clear offence by Harry Maguire and he should have been penalised,” Hackett told Tottenham News after seeing a video clip of the incident.
“*Maguire clearly impacted on the Spurs player’s ability to challenge for the ball.*“
(Credit: TNT Sports 1)
PGMOL must clamp down on grappling offences
Attacking teams never seem to receive the benefit when referees blow up for grappling in the penalty area.
Referees are very quick to give fouls in the favour of goalkeepers when there’s a slight bit of contact but if a 6ft 5 burly defender man-handles an opposing player, prevents him from jumping or throws him to the floor, they seem to look the other way.
A lot of football fans might have thought it would have been soft if Zwayer had pointed to the spot for that incident.
However, a foul is a foul and it shouldn’t matter where it is on the pitch.
If that happened on the halfway line when two players attacked a goal-kick, a whistle would have been blown and a free-kick awarded.
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