Referee delivers key verdict on controversial Hull City moment at Stoke City

Former Premier League referee Chris Foy says Hull City were fortunate to get their match-turning penalty against Stoke City on Friday night, as the Tigers came from a goal down to win 3-1 and record their first win of the season.

Referee Ben Toner pointed to the spot just after the hour mark at the bet365 Stadium with City a goal down to Ben Wilmot's first half header, when Eric Bocat tripped Mohamed Belloumi inside the box.

Replays suggested Chris Bedia was offside as Liam Millar's teasing cross came into the box and he headed up into the air, but referee Toner, after a discussion with his assistant, pointed to the spot following Bocat's lazy challenge on Belloumi.

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The hosts were unhappy with the decision with captain Ben Gibson remonstrating with the officials, but to no avail, and Kasey Palmer stepped up to take the spot-kick, which Viktor Johansson blocked, only for it to fall perfectly on the head of Palmer to nod into the net and make it 1-1.

That goal sparked a huge response from Tim Walter's men with Regan Slater thumping in the second and moments later, Palmer's ball across the box was turned into the net after deflecting off Wilmot and squirming underneath Johansson, to seal victory, but it was that penalty decision which generated plenty of discussion, and Foy felt it should not have been given.

"From an educational point of view, this clip offers some valuable learnings as to whether an attacker in an offside position should be penalised following the ball being touched by an opposition player," he said in the Behind the Whistle feature.

"As the ball is crossed into the box and headed up into the air by Hull City's no. 9 (Bedia), Hull's no. 33 (Belloumi) at the back-post is in an offside position prior to the awarding of a penalty.

"Although Stoke City's no. 17 (Bocat) does get a touch on the ball before bringing down Hull no. 33 (Belloumi) moments later, this is not a controlled action by the defender. Therefore, this is not considered a deliberate playing of the ball and Hull no. 33 (Belloumi) remains active from an offside perspective, therefore he should be penalised for an offside offence when he challenges the opponent and plays the ball, before being fouled by the defender."