PGMOL accepts blame on Liverpool goal should have been disallowed vs Tottenham

Howard Webb and the PGMOL have been singled out as the central figures behind Tottenham Hotspur’s furious reaction to Liverpool’s controversial second goal at the weekend, after Hugo Ekitike’s header was allowed to stand despite strong protests from the home side.

That is the view of former PGMOL managing director and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett, who has laid the blame squarely at the door of English football’s refereeing hierarchy. Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett insisted Liverpool should have seen the goal ruled out during their dramatic 2-1 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 20 December.

The flashpoint proved decisive in a match already overflowing with tension, controversy, and flashpoints. While speculation continues to swirl around Richarlison’s long-term future in north London, it was the Brazilian forward who gave Spurs a lifeline with a late goal, briefly reigniting hopes of a comeback. However, by that point, the damage had largely been done.

Those hopes were effectively extinguished when captain Cristian Romero was sent off, reducing Thomas Frank’s side to ten men and ending any realistic chance of salvaging a result. The Argentine defender received his second yellow card after kicking Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konaté in the stomach — an act of frustration that left little room for sympathy, even among Spurs supporters.

Romero justified in his anger over Ekitike decision

Liverpool had taken the lead earlier through Alexander Isak, who scored before being forced off with an injury. The visitors then doubled their advantage when Ekitike rose highest in the penalty area to power home a header in the 66th minute — a goal that sparked immediate outrage from the Tottenham players.

Romero, in particular, was incensed, remonstrating with the referee and eventually being booked for dissent as he argued that he had been pushed in the back during the aerial duel. Television replays appeared to support his claim, showing Ekitike making clear contact with both hands on the Argentine’s back before the header was directed goalwards.

Despite VAR checks, the goal was allowed to stand, a decision that left Spurs feeling aggrieved and further inflamed emotions on the pitch. While there was little dispute over Romero’s later dismissal — with many believing the kick-out could easily have warranted a straight red card — Hackett believes the earlier decisions played a major role in pushing the Tottenham captain over the edge.

According to Hackett, the referee’s handling of the goal incident and Romero’s initial yellow card set the tone for the chaos that followed, creating an environment where frustration and anger were allowed to boil over.

PGMOL urged to take firmer stance on penalty-area fouls

Speaking on Football Insider’s Final Whistle podcast, Hackett was clear in his assessment of where responsibility lies and what must change moving forward.

“I think the first yellow card was harsh, particularly when you consider that the goal was allowed to stand,” Hackett said. “From my perspective, there was a clear push in the back.

“Yes, it’s subjective to a degree, but when you see two hands placed firmly in the back of an opponent, that constitutes a push. For me, it was a foul, and the goal should not have stood.”

Hackett also warned that the increasing tolerance of physical contact inside the penalty area is creating confusion and inconsistency in decision-making.

“If we continue to accept grappling, holding, pushing, and blocking as part of normal play in the box, then we are inviting exactly this kind of controversy,” he added. “In this instance, the push was sufficient to unbalance the defender. It should have been a straightforward decision to disallow the goal.”

The former referee concluded by suggesting that Howard Webb and the PGMOL must take firmer control of such incidents if they want to prevent future flashpoints — particularly in high-stakes Premier League matches where emotions are already running high.

For Tottenham, the sense of injustice lingers, and while Romero’s dismissal cannot be defended, there remains a strong belief inside the club that the match turned on a decision that should never have gone against them.