Keith Hackett has urged Premier League referees to take a firmer stance on grappling inside the penalty area, following an incident during Liverpool’s victory over West Ham that went unpunished.
The ex-PGMOL head and former FIFA official told Football Insider that referee Andy Madley failed to effectively address grappling during a West Ham corner. Despite stopping play to speak with Lucas Paqueta and Ryan Gravenberch, the rough play resumed immediately afterward. At the time, Liverpool were leading 1-0 through Luis Diaz, who scored his second goal in as many games.
West Ham equalized late on due to an Andy Robertson own goal, but Virgil van Dijk quickly restored Liverpool’s lead, scoring with just a minute left in regulation time—keeping their title hopes alive.
Although most of the action unfolded late in the match, Hackett pointed to first-half stoppage time as a pivotal moment when Madley could have set the tone. The referee intervened after noticing grappling involving Diogo Jota, Gravenberch, and Paqueta during a corner but ultimately took no disciplinary action, nor did he award a free-kick or penalty. The grappling continued as soon as James Ward-Prowse took the corner.
Hackett criticized the PGMOL’s approach, saying that Madley’s warning had no effect and called for referees to be instructed over the summer to issue free-kicks or penalties in such situations. Ignoring the behavior, he argued, is not acceptable.
Both teams were involved in physical battles during the match’s 13 corners, but West Ham fans may feel aggrieved, wondering if a penalty could have changed the outcome. Though Liverpool walked away with a win and a firmer grip on the title race, Hackett emphasized the need for consistent enforcement of rules in the box to encourage cleaner play.
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