Ex-PGMOL chief speaks out on Jay Stansfield penalty claim and Vertu Trophy 'accident'
Former referee Keith Hackett shares the belief held by every Birmingham City supporter on the planet that Blues should have been awarded a penalty after an incident that saw Jay Stansfield carried from the pitch in their 2-1 Vertu Trophy win over Bradford City.
On Tuesday night Stansfield’s brilliant finish just before half time put Blues 1-0 ahead – and he looked to have won a spot-kick and the chance to double the lead after Romoney Crichlow barged him down from behind the lead early in the second half.
However, referee Scott Oldham waved play-on and Bradford swept up the other end of the pitch and equalised seconds later. While the Bantams celebrated Stansfield was motionless and was treated for several minutes being being stretchered off.
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Speaking to Football Insider Hackett believes Oldham made the wrong call: “ I thought that this was a barge in the back of his opponent and expected the referee in a good position to point to the penalty mark.
“Sadly in coming together the Bradford City player landed on his opponent which was an accident.
“The challenge in my opinion by the Bradford City player was careless. The law states for a direct free kick:
“‘A careless challenge is when a player shows a lack of attention or consideration when making a challenge or acts without precaution’. No disciplinary sanction is needed.”
Blues boss Chris Davies certainly saw it that way and while he wasn’t able to offer too much by way of an update on Stansfield’s fitness he did say: “It’s one of those things where I don’t even need to watch it back to see that it’s a penalty. I know it was a penalty. Then for them to break away and score adds insult to injury.”
