Exclusive: Ex-FIFA ref reacts to controversial Portsmouth footage v QPR
Portsmouth beat QPR at Fratton Park on Saturday to make it three wins in three in the Championship but an ex-FIFA referee has weighed in on a controversial moment in the game.
Pompey steered further away from the relegation zone as quickfire goals from Josh Murphy and Matt Ritchie early on in the second half got the job done for the hosts.
Jimmy Dunne halved the deficit for QPR with 16 minutes left on the clock, but John Mousinho‘s side held on to their one-goal lead to claim what was their third win in a row.
Portsmouth could have had a much more relaxed end to the game as Ritchie thought he had grabbed a brace after putting the ball in the back of the net minutes after scoring his first, only for the referee to penalise Colby Bishop for a foul.
Keith Hackett reacts to Matt Ritchie disallowed goal
Bishop and QPR goalkeeper Paul Nardi battled for the ball on the goalline after it looped in the air following a block, with the former ultimately managing to flick it onto Ritchie’s path for a tap-in.
However, the goal was immediately disallowed by referee Thomas Bramall as Bishop was adjudged to have fouled Nardi before getting a touch on the ball.
| Club | Matches | W | D | L | GD | Points |
| 14. QPR | 34 | 11 | 11 | 12 | -3 | 44 |
| 15. Preston | 34 | 9 | 15 | 10 | -5 | 42 |
| 16. Swansea | 34 | 11 | 7 | 16 | -9 | 40 |
| 17. Portsmouth | 34 | 19 | 9 | 15 | -13 | 49 |
| 18. Oxford Utd | 34 | 9 | 11 | 14 | -15 | 38 |
| 19. Stoke City | 33 | 8 | 11 | 14 | -11 | 35 |
With the footage of the incident stirring controversy online, Keith Hackett has provided his thoughts on the incident, insisting that Bishop’s nudge was enough for the referee to rule out the goal.
The former Premier League and FIFA-listed referee admitted that the decision was “soft” but stressed that it was ultimately the correct call.
“The contact, a nudge on the goalkeeper, was sufficient to rule out the goal”, Hackett told Pompey News.
“[The] attacker had really no need to extend his arm towards the goalkeeper which is sufficient evidence for the referee to act and award a free kick against him. Soft but correct in law.”
Portsmouth have no regrets
Portsmouth will not have too many complaints about the disallowed goal itself, but they will be annoyed by the fact that QPR’s goal was not ruled out for similar reasons.
Pompey thought Connor Ogilvie had been fouled by Dunne in the leadup to the visitors’ goal, but Bramall paid no heed to their appeals.