Debatable Decisions: Premier League week thirteen – Part 1

Week Thirteen and the Debatable Decisions are still rolling in thick and fast as referees continue to make mistakes that cost teams points and manager’s their jobs. This week sees Rio Ferdinand make the kind of tackle we should be showing youngsters as we teach them how to tackle in the area, only to see it ruled a foul and Manchester United drop yet more points in the title race. If that’s not bad enough, Victor Moses goes down quicker than a wannabe WAG and in doing so helps Wigan secure a victory that confirms Steve Bruce’s departure from the Stadium of Light. Enjoy!

Man Utd – Newcastle

Newcastle Penalty

The Toon Army levelled the scores and snatched a point from this tie as a result of the most talked about decision of the weekend. Ben Arfa bursting into the area and looking set to either pull the trigger or square it for a team-mate when former United captain Rio Ferdinand slides in to knock the ball out for a corner, or so he though, the linesman awarded the penalty and Demba Ba dispatched it with ease.

Simon: “What can I say about this decision that hasn’t already been said? An absolute shocker from the linesman. It was an absolutely brilliant tackle Ferdinand, last ditch, perfectly timed and a blast back to the Ferdinand of old and the reward is a penalty that costs you the game. I could go on all night about how terrible this decision was, but what’s the point? Incorrect and deserving of a demotion at the very least.”

Ben: “I don’t think this is a bad a decision as everyone has made out but the linesman should see the movement of the ball and realise that Ferdinand got a touch. The wrong decision for sure but certainly not the worst I’ve ever seen.”

Comments from other judges: “What can you say? This was a shambles. I can sort of see referees occasionally misjudging this kind of challenge, but in this case, the referee doesn’t. His assistant lets him down badly. You could show Ferdinand’s challenge to youngsters as how to make tackles in the box. It was immaculate.” & “An awesome tackle by Rio and a terrible decision by the linesman, these sort of things annoy me more than most decisions you have to be completely 100 percent sure when awarding a penalty and there is no way Mr. Linesman could have been certain Rio did not get the ball.”

Overall Verdict: Incorrect Decision

Jonas Red CardNewcastle’s Argentine winger saw red for two late tackles in the second half, both fouls came within minutes of each other and as is so often the case the supporters were left wondering if it was the player’s judgement that was debatable, rather than the referee’s decisions.

Simon: “Talk about footballers being stupid, blimey. I don’t think the referee got either wrong, both deserved yellows, the only debatable decision here is Jonas’s decision to make a dodgy tackle and then two minutes later make an even dodgier tackle.”

Ben: “Both correct decisions. The first was a really poor tackle, the second is just outright stupidity. I’m loathe to say it but he just needs to stay on his feet and stand his ground.”

Comments from other judges: “He’s a good player, Gutierrez, and his tackling is pretty decent. On this occasion, he was a bit late both times. Don’t think he meant any harm, but the yellows do seem fair.” & “Both were yellow cards no doubt but once again a footballer proves how stupid they are, why dive in like that when you have already been booked?”

Overall Verdict: Correct Decision

Hernandez Offside GoalWith Newcastle reduced to ten men and the scores level United pushed forward in search of a winner and they looked to have found it when Javier Hernandez converted a Giggs cross, celebrations were cut short when the players realised that the linesman had raised his flag and the goal had been ruled out.

Simon: “A really close call and sympathy with the officials here, but I think they got it wrong. The slow-mo shows Hernandez about an inch offside, but it’s stopped at a point where Giggs is striking through the ball and not when he makes initial contact, at which point Hernandez is onside. In my opinion the goal should have stood.”

Ben: “It’s my belief that Carrick got a tiny nick on the ball which is why I think the linesman made the correct call.”

Comments from other judges: “He’s not offside for the initial pass but, although it’s hard to tell, I there is a flick from Carrick in the middle, albeit a tiny one. Hernandez is offside from that flick.” & “I think this is onside but it is a very very tight call and I can understand why people would view it either way.”

Overall Verdict: Correct Decision

West Brom – Spurs

Lennon Penalty

West Brom had given Redknapp’s Spurs side a shock when they took the lead, but Spurs fought back and started creating chances, one of which appeared to have fallen the way of Lennon whose surge into the area was sure to trouble the Baggies defence and would have had he not hit the deck, as a result of a slight tug on his shirt. Spurs got the goal they needed, but they got it from the spot, a penalty awarded for what the referee deemed an unfair challenge in the area.

Simon: “The old “contact” chestnut was raised by the commentator in this one, but the contact is minimal and fast as Lennon is he could easily have stayed on his feet. A poor decision from the referee, Lennon conned him and Spurs got back into the game as a result of a player cheating the officials.”

Ben: “I’m not sure there is a foul here at all, certainly not enough to give a penalty. I’m hesitant to say Lennon dived but it shouldn’t have been a penalty.”

Comments from other judges: “Players going down easily is unsavoury but the fact is that all contact, however small, runs the risk of a foul being given if you don’t play the ball, which Shorey doesn’t. I think Lennon could have stayed on his feet but, to the letter of the law, I still think it’s a penalty.” & “No penalty not a dive but there is very little contact and I think Lennon could have stayed on his feet.”

Overall Verdict: Incorrect Decision

Thomas Penalty ShoutAn almost identical passage of play as that which heralded the Lennon penalty, this time it was West Brom’s Thomas bursting into the box and hitting the deck as a result of “contact”, however, unlike the Lennon decision this one didn’t result in a penalty.

Simon: “I didn’t feel there was much contact in the Lennon penalty shout and probably even less in this one. I know players are going to go down in these situations, it’s not good, but we have probably grown to accept it. However, it’s the protests that get me, you tried to cheat, you failed, get up and get on with it.”

Ben: “When people raise the consistency argument, this is what they’re talking about. It’s almost exactly the same as the previous penalty call yet nothing was given. Unlike the Lennon penalty, this was the correct decision but what was there in the other incident that the referee saw to give a penalty?”

Comments from other judges: “A little consistency would be nice. If the Lennon was a penalty, then so is this. Again, I think there’s minimal contact and Spurs wouldn’t have liked it, but I do feel the player clips him ever so slightly without playing the ball. Penalty.” & “This is not a penalty but if the referee gave the Lennon one then why not this one?”

Overall Verdict: Correct Decision

Arsenal – Fulham

Arshavin Offside Goal

The Russian forward looked to have got Arsenal off to a flyer when he exchanged passes with Van Persie, in doing so slipping past the defence undetected, before firing past Schwarzer. It was a lovely move, but chalked off by the referee’s assistant who felt that Arshavin had mistimed his run and strayed into an offside position.

Simon: “No arguments about this one, a good yard or so offside and a shame because it was a really good move and a glimpse of the Arshavin that we were all wowed by at Euro 2008.”

Ben: “I thought he was on when I saw this the first time but it’s a good call for the linesman. Can’t see even the most one-eyed Arsenal fan complaining about this one.”

Comments from other judges: “When you’re offside, you’re offside.” & “Looks onside when watching in real time but the replays show he is slightly off, good spot by the linesman.”

Overall Verdict: Correct Decision

Sunderland – Wigan

Moses Penalty

Another player getting the better of their marker on the edge of the area, getting into the area and hitting the deck as a result of what has to be considered minimal contact. The referee pointed to the spot and another nail was hammered into Sunderland manager Steve Bruce’s managerial coffin.

Simon: “The commentator seems to think that Moses was clipped by Larsson, but I don’t see it. If he was clipped then it was the slightest of touches and Moses hit the deck as if he had been shot. I wouldn’t have given it, but poor old Sunderland, when things aren’t going your way you end up with decisions like this going against you.”

Ben: “Looks like a dive to me. If there is contact, it’s simply not enough to bring Moses down and the referee falls for his con.”

Comments from other judges: “Now this one is different to the Lennon and Thomas incidents. Moses looks an awful lot to me like he’s already halfway down before Larsson gets near him. Which would make it a dive, sadly. Maybe Wigan deserved a little luck after last weeks nonsense, but not like this.” & “An awful decision and another cheating footballer, we had to have one at some point during this weeks decisions.”

Overall Verdict: Incorrect Decision

Stoke – Blackburn

N’Zonzi Elbows

The first incident occurred in the Stoke penalty area, a long throw into the area from Blackburn and as the ball was cleared N’Zonzi appeared to swing a very deliberate and very dangerous elbow towards the face of Ryan Shawcross. The referee missed it and no foul was given, never mind a card. Minutes later N’Zonzi was at it again, leading with an elbow in an aerial challenge, this one did produce a free kick, but both could easily have warranted straight reds.

Simon: “I’m going to talk about the second elbow first, it was pretty nasty, but probably only worthy of a yellow card, though that sort of challenge in the air has earnt red in the past. No such debate about the first, that should have been given as a straight red and I expect the FA to impose a ban based on the video evidence and because the referee didn’t address it at the time.”

Ben: “The first should have been a red because I think he knows exactly what he’s doing. It’s nasty and as Simon says, hopefully it’s something that the FA will take action over. I genuinely have no idea if there was intent in the second incident so I can’t condone showing the red.”

Comments from other judges: “Awkward one to try and assess. The first one is a straight red to me. The second is more of an awkward challenge involving a leading arm, but possibly deserving of a yellow. Anyway, Nzonzi stayed on the pitch, so it’s incorrect.” & “Should have gone for the first one a cowardly thing to do and other players would have been slaughtered in the media for doing this type of thing. The second one is harder to call but still a straight red card in my eyes.”

Overall Verdict: Incorrect Decision

Bolton – Everton

Wheater Red Card

A nothing situation on the half way line turned into a moment of panic for Bolton centre back David Wheater when he miscontrolled an innocuous pass. His heavy touch gave Everton a chance to snatch possession and break, in an act of desperation Wheater threw himself at the ball, studs showing and feet off the ground, a straight red offence and one that eve his own manager agreed with.

Simon: “Owen Coyle accepted this after the match and I think that was the right thing to do. You can’t go in high and with your studs showing, not that I think there was any intent in the tackle, it was just a desperate lunge and the referee had no choice but to show a straight red.”

Ben: “A reckless challenge and as a result, the correct decision was made. Have to agree with Simon, no intent just desperation to get the ball after losing it due to a bad touch.”

Comments from other judges: “Not a lot to complain about here, and nobody did any complaining. You’ve seen far worse lunges and I do feel that Wheater was desperately trying to get to a ball that had gone astray. But still, you can’t go in like that.” & “Easy red card but it was not as malicious as it looks, for me he lost control and although he jumped into the tackle I do not think he was trying to harm the Everton player.”

Overall Verdict: Correct Decision

Kevin Davies HandballOne of the strangest incidents we’ve come across this season. An cross into the Bolton area and two Bolton defenders decided the best way to deal with it was by trying to slap the ball away and not even bother to attempt to hide it. Replays seemed to show that Kevin Davies did manage to get his hand to it and divert the ball away from danger, but the incident took an even more bizarre turn when the referee failed to award what looked like an obvious penalty.

Simon: “How on earth does a referee miss this? Yes there is an awful lot going on in the area, but two players led with the hands and at least one of them touched the ball! I’m absolutely flabbergasted as to how this was missed and even more so as to why the two Bolton players attempted such blatant handballs. Bizarre.”

Ben: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen two players go for the ball that way. I’m thinking a little less harshly than my colleague because although the attempt is obvious, I’m not sure that the touch is and if an official isn’t sure, then I don’t think a penalty can be given.”

Comments from other judges: “Whether or not the official is sure, we’re asked to evaluate whether the decision was correct or not. Not whether or not the official was right based on how much or how little he could feel sure. This is a clear case of deliberate handball. I would argue that Davies seems to try and withdraw at the very last second, but that ball still brushes his hand.” & “How the hell can this be missed it was very obvious and he should have been sent off for it as well.”

Overall Verdict: Incorrect Decision