Ex-Premier League referee delivers his verdict on controversial penalty call - which left Sunderland fans fuming

Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey has delivered his verdict on the controversial penalty awarded against Sunderland at Fleetwood Town.

By Mark Donnelly

Published 1st Jan 2020, 16:23 BST- 1 min read

Updated 1st Jan 2020, 16:23 BST

Ched Evans netted the penalty - but it came from a controversial decision

The Black Cats fell behind to Ched Evans’ first half spot-kick at Highbury, but the decision was viewed as a soft one by the travelling continent.

Referee Anthony Backhouse adjudged Charlie Wyke to have fouled Josh Morris after a scramble in the box following a Fleetwood corner, and pointed to the spot.

But former top flight Halsey believes that Sunderland can feel aggrieved by the call – insisting he saw ‘no foul’ in the box after watching the footage several times. He also felt Backhouse was in a ‘poor position’.

Replying to a Sunderland fan on Twitter, Halsey said: “from the footage you have sent I can not see a foul in fact, I’ve looked at it several times I still couldn’t see a foul, imo the referee is in a poor position to judge any infringement”

This is the foul that led to the controversial penalty call