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Hackett: Man City profited from major controversy as Rodri footage emerges
Emmanuel Dennis may have won Watford a penalty in their 3-1 defeat to Man City if he had gone to ground immediately after Rodri’s challenge, according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee admitted he would have not pointed to the spot but if Dennis had gone to ground sooner it would have forced Simon Hooper to make a decision.
The Watford attacker took the ball past Ruben Dias before Rodri left a leg out to try and trip him.
Dennis continued on his feet before going to ground when he realised he could not regain control of the ball, as shown on the BBC’s Match of the Day programme.
“I’ve seen them given,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“This summarises why players go to ground immediately after they feel a contact. If he had gone down more quickly I think he may have got a penalty kick, there is contact.
“For me, it’s over and away you go. I know that might sound harsh but I think it would have been a harsh penalty kick.
“I’m not giving it but it does highlight the fact that referees are looking and what focuses the attention is how quickly a player goes down and the delay.
“The referee is in a great position. For me, not a penalty kick.
“When players do go to ground additional pressure goes on the referee to make a decision. I don’t think his actions have given the referee a decision to make.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire has told chiefs to think ‘very carefully’ after a Man City ‘disaster’.