Premier League referees must be stronger in their handling of penalty-box grappling after one incident went unpunished in Liverpool’s win over West Ham, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that Andy Madley’s attempt to prevent grappling at a West Ham corner didn’t come close to preventing the issue from occuring again.
Liverpool were already 1-0 up at the time of the incident thanks to Luis Diaz’s first-half opener, the Colombian’s second Liverpool goal in as many games having previously netted just once so far in 2025.
A late Andy Robertson own goal gave West Ham parity, but Virgil van Dijk popped up three minutes later, heading in with just a minute of normal time remaining to put Liverpool back on course for the Premier League title.
Andy Madley fails to punish accordingly in Liverpool v West Ham
While much of the drama was left until the final stages at Anfield on Sunday, things could have been different for both sides had Madley been firmer with Liverpool’s defenders in first-half stoppage time.
A West Ham corner was halted from being taken by Madley having spotted jostling and shoving between Diogo Jota, Ryan Gravenberch and Lucas Paqueta in the box, heading over to speak with the latter duo.
| Liverpool | Statistic | West Ham |
| 2 | Goals | 1 |
| 1.68 | xG | 0.91 |
| 6 / 15 | Shots on Target | 4 / 11 |
| 55% | Possession | 45% |
| 10 | Corners | 3 |
Madley refrained from punishing Gravenberch or Paqueta and didn’t give a free-kick or penalty either way, but the grappling continued just as aggressively after James Ward-Prowse had taken the corner..
Hackett, having seen no difference in the levels of grappling before and after Madley’s discussion with the trio, called upon the PGMOL to clamp down on such duels in the box going forward.
Keith Hackett hits out at PGMOL stance on grappling
Speaking to Football Insider about the decision to let Liverpool and West Ham’s penalty-box grappling go unpunished, the former Premier League and FIFA referee said:
“In added time, at a West Ham United corner kick, the usual forward–defender wrestling match was taking place, when referee Andy Madley stopped the corner kick to go in and speak to two players”, Hackett told Football Insider.
“What impact did this have? Zero – the players continued to grapple.
“The PGMOL need to sort this out in the close season instructing their referees to start to award free kicks or penalty kicks – ignoring the grappling should not be an option.”
While both teams were guilty of jostling in the box throughout a game which saw 13 corners in total, West Ham fans will leave Anfield wondering what could have been, had they been awarded a penalty.
Liverpool’s late show to score at either end and decide the game as a result puts the title within touching distance, but free-kicks, penalties and cards clearly need to be given for teams to get serious about their discipline in the box.
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