Hackett: Listen, this may be real reason Sterling was not awarded Man City penalty | OneFootball

Keith Hackett has suggested VAR did not award Raheem Sterling a penalty for Manchester City because of the inexperience of official Stuart Atwell.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-FIFA and Premier League official also suggested referee Anthony Taylor should not have been in charge of the game as he was born and lives in Greater Manchester.

Sterling was played in behind the Chelsea defence before being brought to ground by Kurt Zouma.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Sterling was left baffled as to why it was not reviewed properly by VAR.

Asked for his assessment of the incident, Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “Sterling has been clipped from behind and doesn’t get a penalty kick. For me, that’s a clear penalty.

“It said VAR had a look but it’s probably saying ‘It’s not a clear and obvious error’ which is surprising.

“Then I look at, and I think, Stuart Atwell, one of the younger guys on the list who is actually having a really good season as a referee, is on VAR.

“For me, it’s a nailed-on penalty and they’ve got it wrong.

“The fact is Anthony Taylor is our second best referee and he’s refereed Manchester clubs for a couple of years and done extremely well.

“I come from the old school. The old school is very clear. I’m Sheffield born and therefore I only refereed Leeds United once and that was towards the end of my career.

“I could referee Chesterfield which is 12 miles but it’s Derbyshire.

“The whole thing was that in our day you would not have a referee officiating in a city anywhere near where they were born.

“There’s just an inherent potential problem that poses these questions. I don’t think individually it affects.

“I think the balance goes the other way. Now we can talk about the real thing that is if Anthony Taylor wants to give Manchester City a penalty kick will want to be 110 per cent right. That’s where the error comes in.

“I’m not questioning their integrity but don’t put them under extra pressure by giving them local games.”

In other news, Manchester City are set to tell a big-money 2020 signing to find a new club.