'It should have been a penalty' - Ex-refs chief fumes after re-analysing Coventry vs Fulham footage

Ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett says referee Adam Herczeg should have awarded Fulham a penalty when Brandon Thomas-Asante pulled Calvin Bassey's shirt in the first half.

Fulham won 1-0 at Coventry on Saturday with Oscar Bobb's 80th-minute goal, but the match was overshadowed by a controversial non-penalty decision in the first half. Calvin Bassey was pulled down by Brandon Thomas-Asante in the Coventry area just before half-time, with replays clearly showing the defender's shirt being held for several seconds. Referee Adam Herczeg and VAR official Jarred Gillett both failed to award a penalty.

Former PGMOL chief and FIFA referee Keith Hackett told Football Insider the decision was wrong. "This is a clear holding offence that impacts on his opponent. It should have seen the award of a penalty kick," Hackett said. "We need to stop trying to find reasons for not pointing to the penalty mark and be more decisive." The Premier League updated its holding rules in 2024, instructing referees to focus on penalising sustained offences that clearly impact an opponent's ability to challenge for the ball.

The three points moved Fulham out of the relegation zone, though Opta's supercomputer still gives them a 30.34 per cent chance of going down this season.