Exclusive: ‘Screaming’ Jamie Vardy claim as Leicester penalty denied v Southampton
Keith Hackett has reacted to suggestions of a penalty for Leicester City star Jamie Vardy during his side’s win over Southampton.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the striker would have made more of a challenge from Taylor Harwood-Bellis if he believed he should have had a spot kick.
Late last month, Vardy announced he will leave Leicester at the end of this season when his contract expires.
On Saturday (3 May), he played his first home game since that announcement, as the Foxes welcomed fellow relegated side Southampton to the King Power Stadium.
Jamie Vardy has eventful afternoon vs Southampton
It seemed as though the veteran striker was at the heart of near enough everything throughout the course of this game.
Vardy scored his 199th Leicester goal to open the scoring in a 2-0 win for his side, with Jordan Ayew getting the second shortly before half time.
In between those two goals, Vardy had also helped stop the game following an injury to referee David Webb, who was then replaced by fourth official Sam Barrott.
With 75 minutes on the clock, the striker then saw a free kick parried away by Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
As he raced to get to the rebound, the Leicester striker then went to ground after clashing with Harwood-Bellis inside the Saints area.
Barrott elected not to award a penalty, and Hackett believes Vardy’s reaction as much as anything else suggests that was the right decision.
‘Leicester City right to be denied penalty vs Southampton’ – Keith Hackett
After being asked by Football Insider whether he felt a penalty could have been awarded to Vardy following that incident, the former referee said:
“I think in that situation, if Vardy believes he’s fouled, he’s screaming at the referee, and he’s not. So if he does he might get cautioned for an act of simulation. So for me I think the referee’s judged it right.”
Leicester are next in action on Sunday afternoon (11 May) when they make the trip to The City Ground to face Nottingham Forest.
Southampton meanwhile are due to host Man City the day before, as they look to pick up the point they need to avoid equalling Derby County’s record low tally in the Premier League.
