Debatable Decisions EPL – Week 7

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 06: Fernando Torres is chased by Leon Barnett of Norwich City during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Norwich City at Stamford Bridge.

You know what we need in this league? Some diving controversy. Thankfully we don’t have to deal with either Mr Bale or Mr Suárez in that context this week, but shorn of our full number of judges, we still have plenty of decisions to get through. And it wasn’t a vintage week for the refs either, with eight of the fifteen major decisions proving to be incorrect.

Chelsea – Norwich

Oscar Penalty Shout

David – Really not too sure, angle isn’t great for checking. I think he’s looking for the ball, and that the contact is not really a push, more accidental. I just don’t think there is enough to call a foul there.

Callum – Looks like a penalty to me, no contact has been made at all there.

Simon – The camera angle isn’t the best, and from what we have to judge, there doesn’t look like enough contact to impede Oscar and cause him to fall as he does. I’m backing the referee on this one.

Overall verdict – Correct decision.

WIGAN, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 06: Everton striker Leon Osman (l) competes for the ball with Jean Beausejour of Wigan during the Barclays Premier League game between Wigan Athletic and Everton at DW Stadium.

Wigan – Everton

Kone Possibly Offside Goal

David – He’s at least a foot ahead of the last defender. Offside.

Callum – Yep, a fair way offside too. Poor decision from the officials.

Simon – Not much to say on this one, clearly offside, and a poor decision from the officials.

Overall verdict – Incorrect decision.

Possible Fellaini Elbow (Yellow Given)

David – I couldn’t give a red for this. Just seems to be trying to balance himself as he comes down from the jump, nothing malicious at all.

Callum – He’s hit him the face, not sure whether he knows too much about the Wigan player being there though. Still, enough for it to be a red card.

Simon – I can’t call this violent conduct. Yes, he has caught the Wigan player in the face, but it’s reckless more than anything, and a yellow card was the right decision.

Overall verdict – Correct decision.

Jelavic Penalty Shout #1

David – I think that he misses the ball and kicks the man, which is enough to impede his goal scoring chance. Penalty.

Callum – I don’t think there’s enough there for a penalty, both obviously going for the ball, and it seems as if the defender got something on it.

Simon – I think the defender catches Jelavic, and it’s enough to impede his chances of shooting. It should have been a penalty for me.

Overall verdict – Incorrect decision.

Jelavic Penalty Shout #2

David – “Nudge” said the BBC man. Nudge or not, it’s illegal force into the back, that is enough to send the player toppling. Penalty.

Callum – Definite shove in the back from Caldwell. Penalty.

Simon – Caldwell has been quiet of late, but he definitely shoves Jelavic in the back, and Everton should have had (another) penalty.

Overall verdict – Incorrect decision.

Everton Penalty

David – The first possible infringement, I don’t think the defender is pulling the man down. The second, after many slowed down looks, I think is a trip. Penalty.

Callum – Think both could be penalties in all fairness. However, you can’t give the one directly after another, so one will do.

Simon – I’ve watched again and again and again, and I can’t see the trip on Mirallas, but I do think that Anichebe was pulled down, and prevented from getting to the ball. So either way Everton should have had a penalty.

Overall verdict – Correct decision.

LONDON, ENGLAND – OMark Noble of West Ham during the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal at the Boleyn Ground on October 6, 2012.

West Ham – Arsenal

Ramsey Penalty Shout

David – Another with enough contact for a foul but exaggerated by the player. Regardless, I think it is just outside the box. No penalty.

Callum – Think a penalty should have been given there, there’s more than enough contact there.

Simon – A very tough one. Not in deciding whether there was a foul as I’m convinced of that, but whether it was inside or outside the box. On close inspection, the defender is clearly outside the penalty area, and makes contact with Ramsey’s foot outside the penalty area, which by my interpretation of Law 12 (A penalty is awarded if any of the…offences is committed by a player inside his own penalty area) means that no penalty should have been awarded.

Overall verdict – Correct decision.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 06: Jack Colback of Sunderland competes with David Silva of Manchester City during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium.

Man City – Sunderland

Cuellar Tackle On Tevez (Yellow Given)

David – Not malicious I think, but studs out, right onto Tevez’ ankle. Red card for me.

Callum – Yellow card fair for me.

Simon – A question of whether he was reckless or used excessive force. For me he is just the right side of the line, and the referee was correct to show a yellow card.

Overall verdict – Correct decision.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 07: Newcastle United player Vurnon Anita in action during the Barclays Premier league game between Newcastle United and Manchester United at Sports Direct Arena.

Newcastle – Man Utd

Tiote Tackle On Cleverley (Nothing Given)

David – Could have done serious damage to Cleverley, but this seems to happen because he only has eyes for the ball and not where his foot is landing. FIFA rules don’t say anything about accidental stamps, just serious foul play. Red card for me.

Callum – That’s a red card. Awful challenge, and hasn’t even made any attempt to miss Cleverley’s leg.

Simon – Late and certainly using excessive force. I’m stunned that there was no punishment in this instance.

Overall verdict – Incorrect decision.

Cisse Penalty Shout

David – Laughably obvious call here. Should have been a penalty.

Callum – Evra is just letting Cisse know he wants his shirt at the end of the match, no? A penalty should have been given there.

Simon – Here we go with the shirt pulling again. A clear penalty.

Overall verdict – Incorrect decision.

Cisse Shot Possibly Over Line

David – MOTD, commentators and analysts’, talked this up like it was hard to tell, but it isn’t. The whole of the ball is definitely not over the line, therefore it is not a goal.

Callum – Looks just over to me, a goal should have been awarded for Cisse.

Simon – The top-down angle is the clearest one to see from the footage we have, and the whole of the ball does not appear to be over the line. Correct decision.

Overall verdict – Correct decision.

Van Persie Possible Elbow

David – Don’t know what Van Persie is up to here, it’s such a patently unnecessary thing to be doing. Certainly worth what would have been a second yellow at any rate, so should have been red.

Callum – Don’t see why he’s done that, should have been shown a red for that as well. Looks pretty clear that he’s trying to hit the Newcastle player in the face.

Simon – It’s not a great angle to judge from, but it certainly appears that Van Persie has attempted to strike Cabaye, and as such should have been shown a straight red card.

Overall verdict – Incorrect decision.

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 07: Brett Holman of Aston Villa breaks with the ball during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa at White Hart Lane.

Spurs – Aston Villa

Clark Possible Handball In Area

David – Not convinced its low enough on the arm, no unnatural positioning. Not a penalty.

Callum – No penalty. Arm clearly by his side.

Simon – Like David, I don’t think his arm is in an unnatural position, and therefore I wouldn’t have given a penalty.

Overall verdict – Correct decision.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 07: Hugo Rodallega of Fulham has his shot blocked by Jose Fonte of Southampton during the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Fulham at St Mary’s Stadium.

Southampton – Fulham

Goal Disallowed For Foul On Schwarzer

David – I think the attacker does give him a little flick from his boot, maybe, but it’s a comical reaction from Schwarzer from negligible contact. Not a foul.

Callum – It’s a foul, but Schwarzer was silly to go over, but it’s highlighted to the referee’s attention. Foul the correct decision.

Simon – There is contact (inventive contact at that, not sure I’ve seen too many attempts at an arse foul before) but was Schwarzer impeded? I don’t think he was, and therefore it shouldn’t have been given as a foul.

Overall verdict – Incorrect decision.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 07: Joe Cole of Liverpool in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Stoke City at Anfield.

Liverpool – Stoke

Huth Possible Stamp On Suarez

David – Stamp’s a stamp. Suarez hardly endeared himself to refs with his later dive, but Huth steps on his chest here, and it’s not like he couldn’t know where Suarez was. Red card.

Callum – I think that is deliberate, and he’s stamped on Suarez there. He should have been sent off.

Simon – For all the furore over diving of late, for me this is much worse. Huth clearly knows what he is doing, and although there isn’t a huge amount of force behind his stamp, it’s still a stamp, and he should have been sent off.

Overall verdict – Incorrect decision.