“Wow”- Ex-PGMOL Boss Stunned By Andy Madley call on Coventry City star against Sunderland
Andy Madley amazed Keith Hackett with his response to a seemingly innocuous incident during the Championship play-off clash between Sunderland and Coventry City.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official hailed the referee for awarding a throw in to the hosts after it had originally been taken incorrectly by Sky Blues winger Tatsuhiro Sakamoto.
Sunderland took a 2-1 lead over Coventry into the second leg of their play-off semi final tie at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday night (13 May).
There was then plenty of drama as the two sides battled it out for the right to face Sheffield United in the final at Wembley on Saturday 24 May.
Tatsuhiro Sakamoto penalised for a foul throw
With Frank Lampard looking to continue the excellent job he has done as Coventry manager, his side needed to take the game to their hosts to overturn that one-goal deficit they faced.
As they looked to do that in the 21st minute of the game, a long ball towards the Sunderland penalty area was headed out of play for a throw in by Black Cats defender Dennis Cirkin.
With Sakamoto then looking to get the ball back in play quickly, he was penalised by Madley for taking a foul throw in, with the referee then awarding the throw in favour of the hosts instead.
Hackett has now praised the referee for enforcing that rule, something he was surprised to see given the rarity with which that law is enforced.
Sunderland benefit from rarely enforced law
Speaking to Football Insider about the incident that led to Sunderland being given that extra throw in, the former referee said:
“Wow, a player takes the throw in from the wrong position and Madley applies the law correctly by reversing the throw in to the opposition. First time I have seen this all season.”
Coventry would get the goal they needed to take the game to extra time thanks to Ephron Mason-Clarke’s strike with 15 minutes of the 90 to be played.
However, Dan Ballard’s dramatic winner deep into stoppage time in extra time ensured it is Sunderland who will be competing for promotion to the Premier League at Wembley later this month.