Keith Hackett reacts to Sunderland penalty controversy in defeat to Hull City

Keith Hackett has given his reaction after Sunderland were denied a penalty for handball during their defeat to Hull City.

The former PGMOL official and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that there would have been some justification for awarding a spot kick for handball by Hull defender Lewie Coyle.

A cross into the Hull penalty area hit Coyle on both his outstretched right-hand and thigh, before bouncing away to safety.

There were frantic appeals from the home side for a penalty, but that was not awarded by referee Farai Hallam.

That therefore could turn out to be a significant moment for the Black Cats as they continue their pursuit of promotion to the Premier League.

Now Hackett has suggested that Sunderland may have been hard done by not to be awarded a penalty, although he does have sympathy with the official over his decision not to give a spot-kick.

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