Keith Hackett gives verdict after fresh footage of Sheffield Wednesday penalty controversy vs Middlesbrough

Sheffield Wednesday F.C. were controversially denied what many believe should have been a late penalty during their narrow 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough F.C. in a heated EFL Championship encounter.

According to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett, the officials got the decision wrong. Hackett stated that Middlesbrough midfielder Aidan Morris appeared to clearly handle the ball inside the penalty area in the 75th minute, in what could have been a decisive moment in the match.

The incident occurred as Max Lowe drove into the box, with Sheffield Wednesday pushing hard for an equaliser. However, instead of awarding a penalty, referee David Webb penalised the attacking side and gave a free-kick to Middlesbrough in the opposite direction.

The call sparked immediate frustration, particularly among Wednesday supporters, many of whom were convinced that there was no foul committed and that their side had been unfairly denied a crucial opportunity to level the score.

Hackett’s assessment has only added fuel to the debate, reinforcing the belief that Sheffield Wednesday may have been on the wrong end of a significant officiating error at a key stage of the game