Ex-PGMOL chief slams Ephron Mason-Clark for ‘simulation’ in Coventry’s win over Preston
Ephron Mason-Clark has come under fire after deceiving referee Lewis Smith to win a penalty for Coventry City in their 3-0 Championship victory over Preston North End on Wednesday night.
Former PGMOL chief and FIFA referee Keith Hackett told Football Insider that Mason-Clark should have been booked for simulation rather than earning a spot-kick at the CBS Arena.
Coventry dominated the struggling Lilywhites, taking a 2-0 lead at halftime through strikes from Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and Brandon Thomas-Asante. The controversial penalty came in the 49th minute after Mason-Clark’s run down the left flank, where Pol Valentin appeared to trip him near the byline. Referee Smith pointed to the spot, and Matt Grimes converted, putting Coventry in control.
Replays, however, suggested minimal contact, leading Hackett to call it a “clear act of simulation.” Speaking to Football Insider, Hackett said:
“I can fully understand the referee from his position judging this as a foul and awarding the penalty. But when we review the replays with a clearer angle, it’s obvious there’s no contact and the player has gone to ground deliberately.”
Coventry’s win moved them nine points clear of third-placed Millwall, while second-placed Middlesbrough suffered a surprise 1-0 home defeat to Charlton Athletic. The Sky Blues have now won six games in a row, boosting their promotion odds. According to Opta, Coventry have a 99% chance of reaching the Premier League this season and a 93.72% chance of finishing top of the Championship.
Manager Frank Lampard has been a key figure in their resurgence, and keeping him in charge amid interest from Crystal Palace appears to have paid dividends for the club’s title charge.
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