West Brom: Ex-FIFA referee reacts to Brandon Thomas-Asante penalty incident at Sheffield United
VAR would have given West Brom a penalty at Sheffield United for a foul on Brandon Thomas-Asante, according to ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett.
The Baggies forward was clipped inside the corner of the area at Bramall Lane by Max Lowe with the scoreline goalless on Wednesday night (26 April), but referee Dean Whitestone and his assistant both missed it and a free kick outside the box was awarded.
Carlos Corberan’s side went on to lose 2-0 as the Blades secured promotion to the Premier League, but Hackett was clear that the Albion missed out on a penalty.
Reacting on Twitter the former PGMOL head wrote: “West Brom should have been awarded a penalty kick for the foul just inside the area. Not an easy one for the Referee and Assistant to determine.
“VAR would have delivered clarification.”
Turning point
It will, perhaps understandably, get lost in the focus on Paul Heckingbottom’s side reaching the top flight, but at that stage of the game it could made all the difference.
Few would argue that West Brom have been on the same level as Sheffield United this season, but a self-inflicted deficit in front of their home fans amid such high anticipation would have ramped up the tension hugely.
The defeat for Corberan and his men may have ended hopes of a play-off spot, and plunges the club into a summer of huge uncertainty after the alarming club accounts a month ago.
Everybody likes to give VAR a kicking where it is in place but it is exactly this sort of incident that makes it suddenly seem vital where it is missing.
Hackett frankly gave the referee’s assistant an easy ride, as it was as close to them as it could be while still being inside the area and nobody was blocking the view from that side.
That Thomas-Asante fell over the line to outside the box, and then didn’t appeal for a penalty, isn’t justification for a clear error being made.
But it is academic now and West Brom are currently left on the outside looking in, two points and three places outside of sixth spot with just two games remaining.
In other West Brom news, the club have become a marker for dysfunction to measure mismanagement elsewhere.