Keith Hackett: PGMOL will keep close tabs on West Ham star after incident vs Man City

Tomas Soucek did make contact with Abdukodir Khusanov, but it wasn’t enough to award Manchester City a late penalty against West Ham United.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that Michael Oliver was right not to penalise the Hammers at the death on Saturday, 14 March.

Just as Marc Guehi fired a shot over the crossbar from six yards out, Khusanov was seen falling to the floor while holding his face, having come into contact with the outstretched arm of Soucek.

Man City drew 1-1 with West Ham, firing a giant dent into their Premier League title hopes, a result which saw them fall nine points behind league leaders, Arsenal.

Tomas Soucek correctly not punished against Man City

It was a key moment in the game, with Guehi’s miss coming in the sixth minute of added time and calls for a last-second penalty being waved away by the officials.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “There’s not enough for the referee to come in. He’s perhaps judged there to be movement of hands and arms in the penalty area.  

“But he’s recognised that there’s a high bar for challenges inside the penalty area. Tomas Soucek is one you’d be keeping an eye on, for sure.

“However, I don’t think there’s enough here to penalise and award a spot-kick. Football is a contact sport, so if you’re going to award a penalty, it needs to be a thump on the nose.” 

Premier League title race blown wide open after Man City slip-up

Pep Guardiola had already admitted that every game was a must-win ahead of drawing against West Ham, and any chances of beating Arsenal to the title have immediately disappeared.

Many suggested that the two teams’ meeting at the Etihad Stadium next month would be the key fixture, but it is unlikely to have a major impact anymore.

Although the Citizens still have a game in hand, the Gunners would still have a six-point lead at the top of the table, having lost just three games all season – Man United, Aston Villa and Liverpool.

Arsenal have been given a 97.42 per cent chance of winning the title by a supercomputer following the weekend’s fixtures, and it is difficult to see Guardiola’s side closing the gap now.

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