Gakpo no-penalty call ‘one of the best decisions this season’

Mark Clattenburg has backed referee Simon Hooper’s controversial decision to deny Liverpool a penalty against Brentford, claiming Cody Gakpo ‘anticipated the contact’ and went to ground looking for a spot-kick.

The Reds suffered a 3-2 defeat in west London on Saturday. In his post-match comments, a frustrated Arne Slot implied that ‘every referee in the world’ would have awarded his team a penalty for Nathan Collins’ challenge.

The tackle on Dutch forward Cody Gakpo proved pivotal. Moments after the penalty appeal was waved away, Brentford doubled their lead to make it 2-0 just before half-time.

On the latest episode of Whistleblowers, Clattenburg praised Simon Hooper’s split-second call, hailing it as ‘one of the best decisions’ the former referee has seen this season.

‘I have been a big critic of referees recently, but I want to praise Simon Hooper here’, Clattenburg told the Daily Mail podcast.

‘There’s a couple of things a referee is going to look at. First, is the defender’s leg planted before any contact. The leg was already there.

‘The second is to look at the attacker’s arms. If you watch a school child fall in the playground, they automatically put out their arms out to protect themselves.

‘Watch Gakpo’s reaction – his hands are in the air, and that tells me he’s looking for the decision.

‘He sees Collins’ leg and anticipates it. That gives a top referee all the signs they need to play on.

‘It’s probably one of the best decisions I have seen this season.

‘There’s huge pressure, it’s one of the biggest sides in the country. To make that decision in a split-second is incredible.’

Hooper’s call was reviewed by Chris Kavanagh as VAR referee, who agreed that the contact with Gakpo did not meet the threshold for a penalty kick.

Clattenburg added that the forward’s fall had all the ‘telltale signs’ of a dive.

He explained: ‘If you fall, your natural reaction is to put your arms out to protect yourself.

‘If you don’t put your hands up, you’re going to hurt yourself. We’re looking for natural reactions. That’s a telltale sign.’

Liverpool’s frustration deepened in the second half when another penalty decision went against them.

Virgil van Dijk made contact with Brentford winger Dango Ouattara on the edge of the box, with substitute referee Tim Robinson, who had replaced the injured Hooper at half-time, initially awarding a free kick.

But VAR ruled the challenge was on the line, meaning it was inside the penalty area, and upgraded the decision to a spot-kick.

To listen to Clattenburg’s analysis of the weekend’s action, search for Whistleblowers now, wherever you get your podcasts.