Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has heavily criticized Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, labeling him a “serial offender” after an unpunished penalty incident during United’s 1-1 draw against Leeds United at Elland Road.

​The frustrating afternoon extended Manchester United’s underwhelming start under manager Michael Carrick. The Red Devils have collected just seven points from their opening seven Premier League fixtures, leaving Carrick under mounting pressure as his side struggles to build momentum.

​The visitors initially took control when Bryan Mbeumo found the back of the net in the 35th minute. However, United failed to protect their advantage after the break. Dominic Calvert-Lewin restored parity for Leeds in the 51st minute, securing a point for the hosts and cementing their solid early season form.

​While a draw at Elland Road is often considered a respectable outcome on paper, Hackett believes United were exceptionally fortunate to leave with anything at all. The controversy peaked in the 63rd minute during a Leeds corner kick, when Maguire appeared to wrestle Ethan Ampadu to the turf inside the penalty area. Referee Darren England allowed play to continue, and the Video Assistant Referee opted against intervening.

​Speaking directly to MOT Leeds News, Hackett pulled no punches regarding Maguire’s defensive methods on set pieces. He argued that the English center back routinely breaks the rules because officials continuously fail to hold him accountable.

​Hackett stated: “Maguire, let’s face it, is a serial offender at corner kicks and will continue to use his hands and arms illegally until someone determines that a penalty kick should be awarded. Maguire has committed a foul challenge and England should have penalised it with a penalty kick. VAR, in attempt to stay low key, decides not to come in, but he should have done so to allow England the opportunity to have a replay of the incident at the monitor.”

​Hackett also questioned the heavy workload placed on Premier League officials, suggesting that fatigue might have played a direct role in England’s failure to award the spot kick. England had served as the VAR official during Liverpool’s turbulent away victory over Brentford only twenty-four hours earlier, a match that featured two dismissals.

​According to Hackett, officiating consecutive high-stakes fixtures within such a tight window compromises decision-making. He noted that England also failed to caution Ampadu for a reckless challenge on Mbeumo later in the contest, attributing the oversights to mental exhaustion. Hackett emphasized that officials should receive only a single assignment per weekend to ensure adequate physical and mental recovery.

​With pressure mounting, United now shift their attention to European competition. Carrick’s squad travels to Italy to face Como in the Champions League before returning to Old Trafford for a Premier League clash with Bournemouth. Leeds, currently sitting comfortably in seventh position, will prepare for an away trip to Sunderland in their next league fixture.