Former Premier League official Keith Hackett claims Sunderland should have been awarded a second-half penalty against Wycombe Wanderers after Patrick Roberts was brought down inside the box with half an hour still to play. Referee Simon Hooper waved away appeals with Sunderland leading 1-0 at the time.
Roberts went down under pressure from Joe Jacobson and Anthony Stewart. The general consensus in the crowd was that the Black Cats should have been awarded a spot-kick, but there was no VAR check and play continued. It was a hugely important moment in the game, with the Chairboys enjoying a large spell of second-half pressure.
Hackett claims it was a nailed on penalty kick and was left shocked that the incident was not looked at. He told Football Insider : “It was absolutely a nailed on penalty kick. I cannot believe that VAR did not intervene. Sunderland were very unlucky not to get a penalty kick on that one.
READ MORE: Nathan Broadhead on Everton future after withdrawing from Wales squad
“I just sat there watching the game and said ‘penalty kick’ as soon as it happened. I thought it was an easy call. If the referee is out of position and cannot see it then VAR should have rectified the decision. Nothing happened though.
“It was the wrong call. These are the big call that top referees have to get right. They will try and fudge it but there cannot be fudge. It is a penalty kick. That was an error.”
