Aaron Hickey avoided a red card in Brentford's draw at Hull City because of the double jeopardy rule
Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has backed referee Rob Jones' decision not to send off Aaron Hickey in Brentford's 1-1 draw at Hull City. Hickey conceded a penalty for a challenge on Tim Iroegbunam but was only cautioned, and Hackett says the double jeopardy law made that the correct call.
- Match: Hull City 1-1 Brentford, MKM Stadium
- Incident: Aaron Hickey challenge on Tim Iroegbunam led to a first-half penalty
- Decision: Hickey shown a yellow card, not a red; penalty awarded
- Key figure: Keith Hackett, former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, exclusively told Football Insider the call was right
- Rule: Double jeopardy on denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity
- Outcome: Oli McBurnie had the chance to open the scoring from the spot; Dango Ouattara equalised for Brentford
What was said
"First of all, the penalty kick decision is the correct one. Under the double jeopardy rule on the denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, it's a yellow card."
"When a defender in the penalty area makes a genuine attempt to play the ball, as this defender did, and commits a foul, the penalty kick is the right decision and the yellow card, not a red for denial."
"Under the old law, he certainly would have walked, but under the revised law of the double jeopardy, where a defender makes a genuine attempt to play for the ball, he's not going to be sent off."
"He's going to get a yellow card. So I think the referee's got that one spot."
Hackett's interpretation clarifies a law that still confuses many supporters. The key phrase is "genuine attempt to play the ball" – once the referee judges that Hickey was trying to win the ball rather than cynically denying a scoring chance, the double jeopardy rule applies and the sanction drops from red to yellow.
That is exactly what happened at the MKM Stadium. Jones awarded the penalty but kept Hickey on the pitch, and Hackett insists both parts of that decision were correct.
The numbers
- Final score: Hull City 1-1 Brentford
- Brentford's league position: Sixth after the weekend
- Hull City's league position: Four places below Brentford (10th)
- Opta prediction for Hull City: 43 points, 16th place (narrowly avoiding relegation)
Why Hickey stayed on: the double jeopardy rule explained
The controversy stemmed from a first-half incident in which Tim Iroegbunam latched onto a poor goal kick from Caoimhin Kelleher before being brought down by Aaron Hickey just prior to unleashing a shot. Hull's supporters demanded a red card as well as a penalty, but referee Rob Jones simply cautioned Hickey and allowed him to continue.
Under the old laws, Hickey would almost certainly have been sent off for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. But the revised double jeopardy rule protects defenders who make a genuine attempt to play the ball inside the penalty area. Because Jones judged that Hickey was trying to win the ball, the punishment is a penalty and a yellow card, not a red.
Keith Hackett, a former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, analysed the footage and concluded that the referee and VAR made the correct call. His verdict will frustrate Hull fans who felt the challenge warranted more, but it provides clarity on a law that is often misunderstood.
Talking points
- Should the double jeopardy rule be scrapped? Many fans feel a penalty plus a yellow is insufficient punishment for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
- Hull City's supporters were furious at the time, but Hackett's verdict shows the referee applied the law correctly. Does that make the rule itself the problem?
- Brentford finished the weekend sixth in the Premier League – a strong position. Could this draw at a newly promoted side prove costly in the race for Europe?
- Oli McBurnie had the chance to open the scoring from the spot. How different might the game have been if he had converted?
What happens next
Brentford will look to build on their sixth-place standing in their next Premier League fixture, while Hull City continue their battle for survival. The Tigers are predicted by Opta to finish 16th with 43 points, narrowly avoiding relegation. Both sides will be back in action next weekend.
Frequently asked questions
Why wasn't Aaron Hickey sent off for his challenge on Tim Iroegbunam?
Because the double jeopardy rule applies: Hickey made a genuine attempt to play the ball, so the referee awarded a penalty and a yellow card instead of a red.
Who is Keith Hackett and what did he say about the decision?
Keith Hackett is a former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee. He told Football Insider that Rob Jones made the correct call, explaining that under the revised double jeopardy law, a defender who makes a genuine attempt to play the ball is not sent off.
What was the final score between Hull City and Brentford?
The match ended 1-1 at the MKM Stadium, with Dango Ouattara equalising for Brentford after Oli McBurnie had the chance to score from the penalty spot.
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