West Ham United: Ex-FIFA official reacts to Kalvin Phillips controversy v Newcastle – ‘100%’
Keith Hackett agrees that Newcastle United should not have been awarded their second penalty in the controversial win over West Ham.
Referee Rob Jones pointed to the penalty spot when Kalvin Phillips caught Anthony Gordon as he attempted to clear the ball.
Jones only awarded the spot-kick after VAR intervened, with Alexander Isak converting to make it 3-2 in a game Newcastle somehow won.
When it was put to Hackett that there was no way Newcastle should have been awarded the pen, the ex-FIFA official responded on X [31 March]: “Agreed 100%.”
Newcastle United stun West Ham United in comeback win
The decision to award Newcastle their second penalty was quite clearly a pivotal moment in the contest.
West Ham were 3-1 up at St James’ Park with a little over 10 minutes to go and on their way to a big victory on their travels.
However, Phillips was penalised, Isak converted and Newcastle used that momentum to first equalise and then go on to win the match.
As for the incident itself, Phillips was trying to clear the ball and caught the boot of Gordon.
The Manchester City loanee took far too long on the ball on another off-day, but to award a penalty was extremely harsh.
Indeed, even Jones, positioned just yards away and therefore with the best view in the house, did not feel it was deserving of a penalty.
This is another example of VAR over-refereeing matches, and it has cost the Hammers dearly on this occasion.
In other West Ham news, a United favourite has shared exactly why he rejected interest from Arsenal last summer.
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