Spain cruised to a 3-0 win over Austria to progress to the next phase of the World Cup, but a controversial refereeing call was scrutinised by BBC pundit Joe Hart
Joe Hart questioned the decision to chalk off Marc Cucurella‘s goal during Spain‘s round of 32 clash with Austria at the World Cup for a soft infringement, claiming it would leave Premier League goalkeepers “throwing their food and drink at the TV.”
Spain cruised to a 3-0 win to ensure their progression to the last 16 courtesy of two goals from Mikel Oyarzabal either side of a header from the Tottenham defender, Pedro Porro. But things could have been even easier for Luis de la Fente’s side had a goal from Cucurella not been ruled out for an apparent foul on the Austrian goalkeeper.
The decision, which occurred when the game was 0-0, looked soft at the best at the time but was promptly checked and approved by VAR.
It was still scrutinised heavily by Hart and his fellow BBC pundits, with the former Manchester City and England goalkeeper pointing out the stark difference between what is allowed at the World Cup and the Premier League last season.
“There are going to be Premier League goalkeepers throwing their food and drink at the TV,” Hart said. “What’s gone in the Premier League this season, for this to be disallowed.
“It is really soft, it is just people challenging for the ball. Sometimes I can understand it when you get your hands knocked out of the way, or taken away from you. That is just an innocent challenge.”
When it was pointed out Jonathan Tah saw a goal ruled out in similar circumstances earlier in the tournament, Hart admitted that while he disagreed with both decisions, something had to be done about the unprecedented levels of penalty area wrestling during set pieces.
“Just to be honest though, it’s a shame this has happened, because they (Cucurella and Tah’s goals) are two perfectly good goals,” he added.
“But something needed to be done, because it was getting ridiculous in the Premier League [with the jostling from set-pieces].
“It was almost impossible for a goalkeeper. It was getting out of hand but I think they could have handled it better than chalking off two perfectly good goals in the World Cup.”
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