Keith Hackett suggests that Darren Bond seemed to “lack confidence” after depending on VAR to make a penalty decision against Leicester’s Conor Coady in the 2-2 draw with Brighton.
Former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official Keith Hackett exclusively told Football Insider that referee Darren Bond still has a long way to go to establish himself as a Select Group 1 official and could face demotion during Hackett’s tenure.
The 2-2 draw between Brighton and Leicester saw Bond’s decision-making come under scrutiny. Brighton’s Joao Pedro opened the scoring, followed by a mistake from Lewis Dunk leading to a Leicester equalizer. Pedro scored again from the penalty spot before Leicester’s Caleb Okoli responded with a stunning diving header. Bond’s indecisiveness, however, almost overshadowed the thrilling game.
In a pivotal moment, Leicester’s Conor Coady appeared to handle the ball in the penalty area, but Bond hesitated before making a call. He ultimately relied on VAR, with Stuart Attwell advising him to review the incident on the monitor. Even after reviewing, Bond struggled to make a clear decision, further highlighting his lack of confidence.
Hackett criticized Bond’s performance, stating that he lacked the confidence and decisiveness expected of elite referees. He emphasized that Bond should not have needed VAR intervention and that he must improve to secure his place in the Select Group 1 referee pool. Hackett also pointed out that Bond’s over-reliance on VAR and reactive decision-making may risk his future in the Premier League.
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