Hearts denied 'stonewall' penalty vs Trabzonspor as Michael Stewart aghast over 'absolutely incredible' call
The former Hearts midfielder has reacted to a possible penalty that his ex-side could have been awarded.
Michael Stewart feels Hearts were denied a stonewall penalty in their Conference League defeat at Trabzonspor.
Wouter Vrancken’s makeshift team amid a raft of injuries battled admirably in Turkey before eventually succumbing to a 2-0 loss, sitting on one point from two league phase matches. Mo Salah scored a first half penalty and Franculino found the winner after half-time but the TNT Sports co-commentator was left aghast after Claudio Braga was sent tumbling inside the Trabzonspor penalty box.
Melih Kabasakal tackled the Portuguese forward as he proceeded to try and create a goalscoring chance for Hearts at 1-0 with Stewart left certain there was enough to warrant a spot-kick. The former Tynecastle midfielder said: “That's a penalty kick. That is a penalty kick. He does not touch the ball and his boot is right in on the back of Claudio Braga.
Could Hearts have had penalty vs Trabzonspor?
“That is 100% a penalty kick. The Portuguese frontman has not complained there, but he gets his body in front of the Turkish full-back. He fouls him. I find that absolutely incredible. Having just seen that one replay, that to me looked well worth more time being spent on it. It was very quickly checked and cleared.
“Kabasakal is desperate for it to be, you know, ‘right, get up, get on with the game. He's gone into the back of Claudio Braga. He cannot win the ball because the forward has got his body in the way. He is shielding the ball perfectly.”
Hearts defender Craig Halkett was on the punditry panel and admits it was a penalty shout he’d be trying to claim. He explained: “I think Braga does really well, gets to the by-line. I don't think the defender's even looking at the ball when he makes a challenge. He back-heels Braga's front leg and Braga's down. I think you can tell by the defender's reaction that he was a bit worried at the time.”
Stewart added on the game: “It’s been the merest of differences in this game, in terms of decisions. Penalty kick for Hearts, right before half-time, it’s an absolute stonewall (penalty) that's not given. All of a sudden, you're 1-1 at half-time, and then a moment of quality that sometimes you've just got to take your hat off and say ‘well played.’
“But there's been lots of positives for Hearts in this, if not for the scoreline. There's absolutely enough to take. The importance of Motherwell for Park on Sunday is colossal, because if you pick up a victory, it just adds and compounds what you've taken from this.
“If you lose, any positives from this are quickly forgotten about. So it's constantly on to the next game. Motherwell, Sunday, Fir Park. Huge, huge game.”
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