Andy Madley Ilkay Gundogan Sasa Lukic, PGMOL Man City Fulham
Credit: Imago / Sky Sports via YouTube
Keith Hackett
Mon 26 May 2025 15:11, UK
Keith Hackett has praised Andy Madley for his smart refereeing for an incident involving Man City veteran Ilkay Gundogan in the win over Fulham.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that it was a “careless challenge” by Sasa Lukic to concede a penalty for fouling the German.
This season had been the stuff of nightmares for Pep Guardiola’s side, with Man City having suffered an FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace, missing out on a fifth consecutive Premier League title, and falling at the first hurdle of the Champions League knockouts to Real Madrid.
But the Spaniard’s team needed to put all that behind them when they visited Craven Cottage on Sunday (25 May), with qualification for Europe’s most prestigious competition still in the balance.
Gundogan opened the scoring with an acrobatic effort in the 21st minute, before Tottenham target Marco Silva‘s side began to grow into the game.
That was until the German won a penalty, which was duly converted by star striker Erling Haaland, ending any hopes of a comeback for the hosts.
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Ilkay Gundogan brought down by Sasa Lukic
With just over 70 minutes gone, City were starting to feel the weight of the pressure inflicted by the home side.
That was until Gundogan made a darting run forward, connecting to a neat pass inside from Jeremy Doku.
The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder collected the ball, before pirouetting past Sasa Lukic.
Match stats Fulham Man City
Possession 47% 53%
Shots (on target) 13 (3) 20 (5)
Expected goals 1.28 xG 2.99 xG
Big chances (missed) 4 (4) 5 (3)
Corners 1 6
In his haste to slow Gundogan, the Serbian midfielder stuck out a leg which caught the City man’s leg, sending him tumbling to the ground.
Madley wasted no time in pointing to the spot, allowing Haaland to double the Sky Blues’ lead and earning praise from Hackett for his decision.
Ilkay Gundogan Man City
Ilkay Gundogan returned to Man City after a one-year stint with Barcelona. (Credit Imago)
Keith Hackett praises Andy Madley for Man City penalty decision
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former PGMOL chief Hackett was quick to praise Madley for his positioning and decision-making.
He said: “I think it’s a careless challenge by the defender [Lukic]. The referee is absolutely on the job, well done to Andy Madley for being in close proximity so that he’s seen enough toward the penalty kick.
“No guessing from the referee, there’s a tap sufficient for him to say it’s on the back of the heel, I’m penalising you.
“I think that’s a good piece of refereeing, and his positioning allowed him to make the decision.”
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