Keith Hackett reveals what he’s been told regarding the Castellanos footage from Millwall vs West Ham.

Taty Castellanos has found himself at the centre of an allegation following West Ham United’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Millwall at The Den, with former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett now revealing what he has been told about the footage surrounding the incident.

Castellanos completed the full 90 minutes for West Ham during Saturday’s Championship clash and played a role in the visitors’ fightback after they found themselves two goals behind at the interval.

The Hammers appeared to be heading towards a disappointing defeat after Millwall established a commanding first-half advantage. However, West Ham responded strongly after the break and eventually recovered to secure a point from an entertaining encounter.

Despite the drama on the scoreboard, there were no significant incidents during the contest that immediately dominated the headlines. That changed when Millwall goalkeeper Filip Marschall made an allegation involving Castellanos during the match.

Marschall reportedly claimed that the West Ham forward had spat on his shirt. The allegation has since resulted in a complaint being lodged by Millwall, meaning the matter could now be investigated by the relevant football authorities.

At this stage, however, it remains an allegation and there has been no finding that Castellanos committed any wrongdoing.

The incident was not apparently captured by the main broadcast coverage provided by Sky Sports or ITV. That does not necessarily mean there is no footage available, though, given the number of cameras that were operating around The Den for the televised fixture.

With the match attracting significant attention and being broadcast live, other camera angles could potentially provide further information about what happened.

Hackett has now offered an insight into what he has been told about the incident and suggested that footage may exist despite the alleged act not being shown during the main broadcast.

“I’ve been told the referee missed it, but ITV picked it up,” Hackett told West Ham Zone.

If the footage does exist and ultimately establishes that Castellanos committed the offence alleged against him, the consequences could be significant.

Hackett explained that a player found guilty of such conduct would face a suspension, with the minimum punishment potentially involving a ban lasting several matches.

“Anyone who is found guilty of an offence such as this faces an automatic ban of at least a few games,” he added.

Previous cases involving similar allegations have resulted in substantial suspensions. Players who have been found guilty of spitting offences have previously received bans of six matches, highlighting the seriousness with which football authorities treat such incidents.

The Football Association is expected to oversee any investigation into the allegation. If the FA receives and reviews relevant evidence, it could determine whether further action against Castellanos is warranted.

For now, though, there is an important distinction between an allegation and an established offence.

Castellanos has reportedly denied that anything happened, leaving the outcome dependent on whatever evidence may be available. If footage is located and reviewed, it could potentially provide clarity over Marschall’s claim and establish whether disciplinary action should follow.

The comments made by both managers after the match have also added context to the developing situation.

Millwall manager Alex Neil indicated that he would be surprised if Marschall had made the allegation without believing that something had happened.

Neil’s comments reflected the seriousness of the accusation, although they do not establish what actually occurred.

West Ham head coach Nuno Espirito Santo took a more cautious position when questioned about the matter.

The West Ham boss acknowledged that he was aware of the allegation but said he wanted to speak directly with Castellanos before drawing any conclusions.

That approach leaves the situation unresolved while the possibility of further investigation remains.

For West Ham, the immediate priority will be the footballing implications of their comeback at The Den. Going two goals behind away from home and recovering to draw 2-2 ensured that they left with a point, but the Castellanos allegation now threatens to overshadow the result.

The Argentinian forward was involved throughout the match, completing the entire contest, but his performance is now likely to receive less attention while the alleged incident is examined.

Millwall, meanwhile, will hope that any available footage can establish precisely what happened between Castellanos and Marschall.

The fact that the allegation was not shown during the main television coverage means the investigation could depend heavily on alternative footage, referee reports and any other available evidence.

Hackett’s claim that ITV captured the incident could therefore prove significant if the footage is ultimately obtained and examined by the FA.

Nevertheless, until that evidence is reviewed and a formal conclusion is reached, Castellanos should not be treated as having been found guilty.

The allegation has created a fresh disciplinary issue following an already dramatic afternoon in south London, but the next stage will be determining whether the available evidence supports Marschall’s complaint.

If the FA does establish that Castellanos committed the alleged offence, the West Ham forward could face a lengthy suspension. If the footage does not support the accusation, however, the matter could end without further punishment.

For now, all eyes will be on any footage that may emerge and on the FA’s handling of the complaint as the investigation develops.