Keith Hackett shares verdict on Dan James incident v Newcastle
We’re delighted to welcome former Premier League referee Keith Hackett to the MOT Leeds News team. Each week, Hackett will discuss the big moments from the latest Leeds United games and deliver his verdict on whether his successors got their calls right or wrong…
Keith Hackett has supported Mike Dean after he decided against handing Leeds United a penalty against Newcastle.
Dan James appeared to be taken down by Joe Willock at St James’ Park, but the officials waved away the protests.
Hackett insisted that Dean’s positioning was “brilliant” so it was hard to go against his reasonings for waving it away.
Speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, Hackett said, “It’s unusual for a player to go down going away from goal. I’m rather surprised, Mike Dean is in a great position.
“The only thing I go on is Dean is in a brilliant position and he’s not given it, there’s got to be a reason why he hasn’t, he’s not seen it as a stonewall penalty.
“He’s not a referee that shirks the big decisions. Basically, his positioning is selling the decision to me – it didn’t stand out to me as a massive error.”
Strange.
Everyone has gone against Dean so far, so to see a former FIFA official think differently makes us scratch our heads.
Dermot Gallagher insisted it was a penalty live on Sky Sports this morning, but this is a different view on the controversy.
Hackett suggesting it was strange to see James go down when going away from goal, but surely that may show that he was fouled rather than diving.
The incident has gone now, though, and it is time to move on.
Fulham are next up tomorrow and the Whites need to regroup quickly and get ready for the Carabao Cup and then clash against West Ham on Saturday.
In other Leeds United news, Gelhardt & Cresswell start, three full debuts – View: Predicted Whites starting XI v Fulham