Debatable Decisions EPL – Week 2

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: Mark Schwarzer of Fulham punches clear under pressure from Danny Wellbeck of Manchester United during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford on August 25, 2012 in Manchester, England.)

Week Two and we’re back into the swing of things with another couple of debatable decisions that raised eyebrows around the footballing world. First up, happy birthday to resident judge Ant McQuillan who turned 31 this week and welcome to David Costelloe who joins us to fill the void left by Simon Furnivall after his recent injury. You can follow David on Twitter @NFBblog . Enjoy.

Man Utd – Fulham

Free Kick For Fulham Opener

Simon M – It’s very soft and there’s not all that much contact, but it’s a silly tackle from Carrick and I think the referee was probably right in awarding the free kick.

Ant – I don’t think there’s enough contact here to warrant a foul for me he dived.

Mike – I think this is one of those where the defender leaves his leg in but the attacker makes the most of it by ensuring there’s some contact and going down. Nevetheless, it does look like a free-kick to me. Carrick is caught on his heels and it is a trip, even if the Fulham player could have avoided it.

Callum – The leg’s out, and there’s contact – Petric may have gone down easily but it’s still a foul.

David – He goes to ground a bit easily but Carrick has his foot out and trips him. I have suspicions about some shirt pulling in the box after this, but it was a free.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

Rafael Disallowed Goal

Simon M – He’s offside, no doubt about it and the margins are very tight so it has to go down as a good call from the officials.

Ant – A very close call but I think he is just off.

Mike – It’s much more difficult to make a decision on this without one of those imaginary lines they sometimes add for offside decisions. And let’s remember that linesmen don’t get these. I would say that it probably is just about offside.

Callum – I’ve watched this one over and over. I’ve looked at it zoomed in, and tried to tilt my head in order to see if I can get the right angle (Obviously I can’t), and it looks just offside. Think the correct decision has been made by the officials.

David – When the shot is made, Rafael is just off. Like with Kagawa goal in similar circumstances, it’s a good call by the officials.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

Possible Foul On De Gea For Fulham’s Second Goal

Simon M – The thing that gets me about this challenge is the movement of Petric in relation to the ball. He turns away from it, has his back to goal and ends up a decent distance away from the ball before it has even reached his vicinity. I’ll be honest, he’s either going for the keeper or heading the ball clear and I can’t see why he would do the latter.

Ant – Not even close to a foul just a case of the GK and the defender getting in each others way.

Mike – I don’t see any foul here. De Gea comes out but Petric has a big frame and the ‘keeper gets nowhere near it. Petric just positions himself and De Gea makes a hash of it.

Callum – I don’t think Petric knows that De Gea’s coming for that, and he’s tried to play the ball, no foul.

David – No way. At worst it’s a fair shoulder. A communications mix up between goalie and defender.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

Aston Villa – Everton

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: Karim El Ahmadi of Aston Villa challenges Marouane Fellaini of Everton during the Barclays Premier league match between Aston Villa and Everton at Villa Park on August 25, 2012 in Birmingham, England.

Clark Red Card

Simon M – The commentator seemed convinced that contact had been made and the red card was a forgone conclusion, I’m not. I don’t see any contact, even minimal contact, between Clarke and Jelavic. It looks like Jelavic runs across his path and then throws himself to the ground. I don’t think this is a foul, let alone a red card.

Ant – Bringing Jelavic down who is clear on goal so there is no option but to send him off.

Mike – Clark can’t have too many complaints. It’s not much of a tug and you do wonder if Jelavic needed to go down but if you feel yourself hindered illegally, why wouldn’t you go down? To the letter of the law, the referee has no choice with the red card.

Callum – Last man, cynical foul, has to be a sending off.

David – I’ve replayed this loads of times, and I just can’t see it. I really think this was harsh on Clark. If there was contact, it was the absolute minimum and certainly shouldn’t have caused a fall.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

Everton Disallowed Goal

Simon M – Another good spot from the officials, he’s just off and they’ve got a few of these tight decisions correct in the opening two weeks. Well played.

Ant – A bit like the Tevez goal last week very close but he is just offside.

Mike – It’s another fairly tight one but I think you can see that the officials just about get it right.

Callum – Offside, correct decision yet again.

David – He is just off, a head only.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

Chelsea – Newcastle

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: Eden Hazard of Chelsea battles with Jonas Gutierrez of Newcastle United during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge on August 25, 2012 in London, England.

Torres Penalty Awarded

Simon M – Does Anita touch him? I’m not so sure. He shapes as if his follow through will connect, but in the end it looks like Torres is throwing his leg out trying to hit Anita in order to get the penalty and I don’t think he succeeds.

Ant – No need to stick the leg out here because I’m not sure how in control of the ball Torres is once the ball is past the Newcastle player, clear penalty.

Mike – It’s clumsy but he does pull his foot away from the challenge. Torres goes down over nothing.

Callum – At first, I thought dive, then I was convinced that it was indeed a foul. I keep looking at it and I really don’t know, but it looks as if there’s the smallest of contact on Torres’ right knee, and although he’s made a meal of it, I think the correct decision has been made as Anita has also swung wildly.

David – A little wild on Torres, who eagerly took the chance to hit the ground with gusto.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

Spurs – West Brom

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: Youssouf Mulumbu of West Bromwich Albion is tackled by Sandro of Tottenham Hotspur during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Bromwich Albion at White Hart Lane on August 25, 2012 in London, England.

Defoe Disallowed Goal

Simon M – He’s clearly offside and by quite some distance, if the linesman had missed this one there would have been uproar.

Ant – Well spotted by the linesman Defoe is clearly offside when the ball is played in.

Mike – Nothing too debatable about this one. Defoe is clearly offside when the ball is lifted in.

Callum – Is this even debatable? Way off.

David – Daylight between him and the last defender. Certainly offside.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

Southampton – Wigan

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: Guly Do Prado of Southampton jumps for the ball with James McArthur of Wigan during the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Wigan Athletic at St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton

Possible Foul In Build Up To Kone Goal

Simon M – No foul, in my opinion. Looks like Kone got in there and nicked the ball away, if anything he got a bit of a nibble on his ankle from the defender.

Ant – I think the Southampton player just falls over he needs to be stronger in this sort of situation.

Mike – I think this is a foul. You could argue Fonté stumbles a little but he does appear to get a nudge in the back from Koné, and possibly it’s a slight trip, as well.

Callum – Kone doesn’t touch the ball but makes contact with the player. Should have been given as a foul.

David – A bit hard to see clearly, but Kone doesn’t seem to step on his foot, in fact he seems to get a little jab to the back of his own leg before he takes off.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

Norwich – QPR

NORWICH, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: Ji Sung Park of Queens Park Rangers holds off Grant Holt of Norwich during the Barclays Premier League match between Norwich City and Queens Park Rangers at Carrow Road on August 25, 2012 in Norwich, England.

Cisse Penalty Awarded

Simon M – Add this to the list of woeful tackles in the area from last weekend. It’s a clear penalty and Bassong was maybe a little lucky to stay on the field.

Ant – Quite hard to tell properly but I think there is contact on Cisse and a penalty is the right decision.

Mike – This one is as hard to tell as we’ve ever had over a penalty. The way I see it, Cissé miscontrols the ball and it’s well gone before there’s any contact. I’m not sure you can give a penalty for it.

Callum – He’s been pushed in the back and gone down, the ball hasn’t been won, penalty is the correct decision.

David – Cisse gets the ball and I think he then has his left leg taken out from under him.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

Green Possible Handball Outside Area

Simon M – Wow, how on earth does the linesman miss that. It’s a good foot outside the area and I think he’s denied a goalscoring opportunity, I would have sent him off.

Ant – I think Green is just outside the area when he touches the ball but it would have been very hard for the officials to see.

Mike – It was outside the area. What more can you say about it, really?

Callum – Yep, outside of the box, and as it’s a possible goalscoring opportunity, I’d send Green off for it.

David – He definitely handles just outside the area. Since the attacker is so close to him and the keeper’s infringement stops the attack, it should have been a free and a red.

Overall Verdict – Incorrect Decision (Unlike Cech’s last week, this involved a goalscoring chance so will be counted)

Liverpool – Man City

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 26: Mario Balotelli of Manchester City competes with Martin Skrtel of Liverpool during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on August 26, 2012 in Liverpool, England.

Free Kick For Liverpool’s Second Goal

Simon M – Rodwell’s arms are all over the place and the ball clearly strikes them. It’s a definite free kick.

Ant – Should have your arms in that position in my opinion even though it was close range I think it was an obvious free kick.

Mike – When the distance between the ball being struck and the defending player’s hands is so short, we almost always give the defender the benefit of the doubt on the basis that there’s little they could do. In this case, it’s a bit different because the player goes down to block but raises his arms.

Callum – Yep, it’s deflected off him, but it’s clearly hit his hands, handball.

David – His arms are up (protecting his face of course, but still) and deflect the course of the ball drastically. Has to be a free.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

Johnson Penalty Shout

Simon M – I’m going to go for penalty. The defender hasn’t got near the ball, but has managed to get some of Johnson as he follows through. A lucky escape for City.

Ant – Nothing in this at all minimal contact and certainly not enough for a penalty.

Mike – Another one where I’m finding it really hard to say. After several viewings, I’m going to have to say that I think there’s a foul here.

Callum – Penalty. Hasn’t played the ball at all and caught Johnson with his trailing leg. Penalty.

David – I think this a great tackle, stopping a likely goal.

Overall Verdict – Incorrect Decision

Stoke – Arsenal

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND – AUGUST 26: Abou Diaby of Arsenal runs with the ball during the Barclays Premier League match between Stoke City and Arsenal at the Britannia Stadium on August 26, 2012 in Stoke on Trent, England.

Walters Disallowed Goal

Simon M – Yup, yet another offside called correctly. Well played officials.

Ant – Clearly offside, Walters should have held his run for just a split second.

Mike – He’s offside. Simple.

Callum – Clearly offside, good decision.

David – Yeah, certainly offside by a half-foot or so.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

Wilkinson Possible Handball In Area

Simon M – Blimey, I’m surprised I didn’t see more of a fuss about this on Twitter, because I think it’s a definite penalty and a red card. Fair enough he’s throwing himself in front of the ball, but the way the arm is outstretched, in my opinion, shows that he knew exactly what he was doing and meant the block the ball with his arm.

Ant – I didn’t think this was close to a penalty when I viewed it in real time but on the replays I can see why people would argue for one. No Arsenal players claim it was a penalty and in my eyes I don’t think it was.

Mike – This does look like a blatant handball. Stoke get away with one here.

Callum – Handball, should have been given as a penalty, and a red card.

David – His right seems a bit outstretched alright. I think he’s trying to make up for his slip and got away with it. Should have been a penalty and a red card.

Overall Verdict – Incorrect Decision x 2

Pennant Penalty Shout

Simon M – It’s just inside the area and I think Gibbs has been beaten for pace and skill by Pennant and Gibbs’ last ditch attempt at rectifying it is to make the foul. It’s a penalty.

Ant – I’ve seen them given for this sort of challenge but I think this would have been pretty harsh to give so no penalty.

Mike – Jonathan Pearce thinks it would have been harsh. Maybe, but I think there’s something in it. It looks like a bit of a shove to me.

Callum – The way Gibbs turns around there makes me suggest that he knows that he’s given a penalty away there. Pennant has got a right to be angry, Gibbs wasn’t getting near the ball and tripped Pennant.

David – Had numerous looks at this one. As easily as Pennant goes down, I still see a shove with the forearm that was just inside the box. I hate this kind of thing because it’s so subtle but is still an infringement. A penalty.

Overall Verdict – Incorrect Decision

Wilkinson Tackle (Yellow)

Simon M – I always say the same thing when I see tackles like this, he could easily have got to the ball by making a normal tackle so why go in like this unless you want to cause some damage or rough someone up? If you’re trying to do either of those things then I think you’re ticking the excessive force box. Should have been a red, but then again he shouldn’t have even been on the pitch after his earlier handball.

Ant – A lot of outrage on twitter over this tackle but I think that’s more to do with peoples views on Stoke City rather than the actual tackle. It was a bad one but I think a yellow card was the correct decision.

Mike – It’s very late but I don’t think it’s all that dangerous. Probably a yellow card is just about okay, but he’s pushing it.

Callum – Wilkinson wouldn’t even be on the pitch if the earlier had been given against him. I can imagine the ‘Away Boyz’ are up in arms at this one. However, he’s wiped him out there, and got nowhere near the ball. He could well be sent off for that, but I don’t think it was endangering Podolski that much other than just roughing him up, his feet were on the ground, studs facing the floor. Yellow card is the correct decision, though many Arsenal fans may only see justice when Stoke have been expelled from the league.

David – This a wild challenge. Studs aren’t totally out but still fairly vicious. Doesn’t get the ball, takes the man big time. I would have given a red.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

***

You can follow all five judges on Twitter; Simon M – @Deb_Decisions, Callum – @callummaclean91, Ant – @Acidburn81, Mike – @mkobylko and Simon F – @SFurnivall.