Debatable Decisions – Week 37

The penultimate weekend of the Premier League season and we have the usual array of red card and penalty incidents to discuss, most notably in the Liverpool – Chelsea game that Simon F covered in his recent ref review.

Newcastle – Man City

Silva Penalty Shout

Simon M – Hmmm, the problem I have with this type of decision is that not awarding it paves the way for a discussion about what pulling is allowed and what pulling isn’t and that’s not a discussion that anyone would enjoy. For me, if you’re pulling, you’re trying to gain an unfair advantage, so I would have given it, but with the vote split we go with the referee’s decision.

Ben – With the view that Howard Webb has got, I can’t fathom how he’s missed it. The only thing I can think is that he’s too focused on the ball.

Mike – Sometimes these are given, sometimes they’re not. It’s not a particularly powerful tug, but I do feel, technically at least, you have to give a penalty there.

Simon F – A tough one, there is a little tug on Silva’s arm but is it enough to impede him? I’m going to side with the referee this time (even if it is Howard Webb) and say no penalty.

Michael – There is definitely a little pulling of Silva’s arm, but I don’t think there is a case to be made to claim it impeded the player at all. He was surrounded by black and white shirts and was simply crowded out. I think it is important to note here that Silva did what all young players are specifically told to do and reach out his arm to try and keep the defender at arms length to enable him to shield the ball and let him know when he has enough room to turn. He not only welcomed the contest with Williamson but initiated it. It was just the same kind of bread-and-butter football tussle you see all over the pitch every week. Tiote and Coloccini win the ball fairly too. Not a penalty for me.

Overall Verdict – Incorrect Decision

Man Utd – Swansea

Young Penalty Shout

Simon M – Definite penalty and as definite a case of a player’s recent media coverage affecting a decision involving him as you’re ever likely to see. I would add that the way Young goes down looks unnatural and that might also have affected the referee’s judgement.

Ben – The boy who cried wolf? This is a penalty, Young tries to make sure he’s going to get it but that may actually count against him here.

Mike – There is a trip here. I don’t think that can really be questioned. What I would say is that it’s not a massive contact and Young goes to ground quite easily. Lots of players go down in this kind of situation. It’s a foul, but you have to go down to stand a chance of getting it. It should have been a penalty.

Simon F – Is Ashley Young’s deserved reputation as a diver coming back to bite him? For me this was a penalty, he was kicked on the ankle and it was certainly enough to impede him.

Michael – This one was the veritable ‘stone-waller’. Young beats the defender for both skill and pace and has his weight-bearing foot impeded. It may be difficult to have any sympathy for Young as he crashed to the ground bellowing the word ‘wolf’, but a penalty it should have been nonetheless.

Overall Verdict – Incorrect Decision

Bolton – West Brom

Mark Davies Penalty

Simon M – It’s the barge from Mulumbu that should have been dealt with, though i’m not entirely sure Andrews wins the ball, the push is more than enough to see a penalty awarded. It was a bizarre tackle, one of many we’ve seen this season and makes you wonder what was going through the player’s mind.

Ben – As clear a penalty as you’re going to see, especially considering the referee’s position. Whether Andrews get the ball or not, Youssuf Mulumbu is the guilty party and just wipes Davies out

Mike – The first angle makes it look like a good tackle. The second makes it look like a foul. I’m going to suggest that the ball is played only after the contact and it was probably a foul.

Simon F – One very well timed tackle, one clumsy and rightly penalised. Andrews makes an excellent tackle to win the ball, but Mulumbu fairly well cleans Davies out as he does and the penalty was rightly awarded.

Michael – You have to have a little sympathy for Keith Andrews on this one. I think his tackle is a well-timed challenge that does win the ball before affecting the player. Unfortunately, Mulumbu coming in from the other side a fraction later definitely fouls Davies. It is one of those that drives you mad as a football fan. Had Mulumbu trusted his team mate to deal with the situation, we’d be sat here talking about a great tackle. Instead, some idiot stood behind the attacker decides he is ideally positioned to stick his oar in, and then compounds his stupidity by insisting upon doing it with the wrong foot – the one which would be required to defy the fundamental laws of physics to succeed in its task – because it still hasn’t occurred to him that he has two from which to choose. Penalty, no question.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

Arsenal – Norwich

Martin Penalty Shout

Simon M – I think we’ve all had our fill of these incidents over the course of the season. Week in, week out, we see players being dragged to ground and referees turning a blind eye. This is a definite penalty and I think it’s fairly obvious what was going on as the player hit the deck, so I have no idea how the ref missed it.

Ben – This shouldn’t even be called defending. It’s a foul and the type that I hate to see players get away with.

Mike – There is a lot of tugging going on here by Koscielny and he ends up pulling Martin down. Penalty.

Simon F – I’m getting sick to death of week after week complaining about shirt pulling in the penalty area. This is yet another example of it being wrongly ignored, and Norwich should have had a penalty.

Michael – For me, this was a penalty. I can understand why the referee didn’t give it, as upon first viewing it was difficult to assess. I think the replays clearly show, however, that Martin was trying to contest the ball whilst Koscielny wasn’t – he was fully focused on preventing Martin from getting the opportunity to contest it. That makes it a penalty in my book.

Overall Verdict –

Van Persie Penalty Shout

Simon M – When I first saw this my immediate reaction was that a penalty should have been awarded, then I watched the replays and read the other judge’s comments and the penny dropped. Play should have stopped for the Gervinho offside, whether he touched the ball or not, so anything that happened after that wouldn’t have happened had it been called. As such, this decision goes down as incorrect, but only for the Gervinho offside and isn’t counted in the overall findings.

Ben – Another clear penalty but I have to say that it shouldn’t have been given. The reason being that there was an offside which should have be called just before it. If it gets as far as the penalty, then it has to be called but the linesman doesn’t cover himself in glory either. He’s bang in line with the crosser of the ball, so he should be able to see that there is a player offside. As he doesn’t touch it, there is an argument that he wasn’t active but he’s so close to getting a touch, I can’t see how that can be.

Mike – You can’t get much more blatant than this. It’s a clear shove. Penalty again. However, It doesn’t matter that van Persie is fouled because Gervinho is offside prior to that.

Simon F – (Gervinho offside, Naughton foul & red card) – The push on Van Persie is clear and should have been a penalty and a red card for Naughton for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. However, that decision shouldn’t have been needed as Gervinho was in an offside position and gained an advantage in trying to play the ball, causing Ruddy to react and put him in the wrong position to try and save Van Persie’s potential shot. Three decisions, not one of them called right. Poor show.

Michael – This one had me pulling my hair out at the TV, and if you ever found yourself privileged enough to gaze upon my follicle splendor you’d appreciate the monolithic levels of frustration such an act denotes. Whether or not Van Persie was pushed is absolutely immaterial. A moot point. That is because Gervinho was offside and play should have been stopped long before anything ended up in the net. We were sat there being lectured by people on TV who I wouldn’t trust to potty-train an infant never mind study, decipher, and apply the laws of Association Football, telling us that because Gervinho didn’t touch the ball he was not active in the play. Nonsense. Gervinho’s run and position dictates John Ruddy’s position in the Norwich goal and he can clearly be seen to react to the Ivorian’s failed attempt to strike the ball. It’s offside, so Naughton’s push on Van Persie simply becomes another meaningless scuffle after the ball has gone dead, and certainly not the kind of daylight robbery some are trying to portray it as. No penalty.

Overall Verdict – Incorrect Decision

Aston Villa – Spurs

Heskey Penalty Shout

Simon M – I actually think Kaboul gets the ball, the way it shifts direction as Heskey goes down would seem to indicate that the defender had got a touch on it. That said, it could easily have been a result of Heskey’s control…..or lack thereof.

Ben – Heskey is definitely brought down here and a penalty should have been given

Mike – Looks for all the world like a trip in the box to me.

Simon F – A shoulder to shoulder moment which leaves both players on the ground. The referee made the right decision in awarding nothing.

Michael – I think the referee got this one right. Heskey wasn’t in full control of the ball (when was he ever?) and Kaboul had the pace and strength to turn it into a perfectly legitimate shoulder-to-shoulder contest. The stronger man won it. No penalty.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

Rose Red Card

Simon M – What can you say about this? The ball is there to be won, a simple slide tackle would see him possibly gain possession for his team, instead his intention is to injure Hutton, let’s not beat about the bush here, that’s what he’s trying to do. Pathetic and a fully deserved red card.

Ben – A horrible challenge, I don’t think the referee had any other option

Mike – This is wild and uncontrolled from Rose. An easy decision for the referee to make

Simon F – An awful challenge from Danny Rose in which he clearly is not in control and Hutton was very lucky to escape serious injury. Deservedly sent off.

Michael – I didn’t like this challenge one bit. Yes, he took a bit of the ball, and we all love a fully-committed tackle. But this one was high, needlessly reckless, and definitely endangered an opponent. In other words, it ticks all the boxes for serious foul play and a red card was the correct outcome.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

Sandro Penalty

Simon M – A lot of talk about players cheating to gain penalties in recent weeks, what about defenders trying to cheat to avoid penalties? It’s constantly overlooked. No way does Dunne win the ball and he knows it, but he goes mad when it’s awarded. He’s cheating, plain and simple, but it’s ignored because he isn’t an attacker.

Ben – A clear penalty, Dunne is too late to get to the ball and as a result, takes Sandro out.

Mike – Players will protest anything! How can Dunne possibly argue with this decision? It’s obviously a trip

Simon F – Absolutely no doubt about this one. Dunne misses the ball and trips the man, a penalty all day long.

Michael – There can’t be much debate over this one. Dunne went to ground, cleaned out the man, and failed to influence the ball in any way. Penalty kick all day long.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

Wolves – Everton

Jelavic Goal Disallowed For Offside

Simon M – He’s clearly onside, I think there are possibly 2 or 3 players playing him onside, so for the officials to get this one wrong is an absolute disgrace.

Ben – Another linesman with a really poor decision. His positioning is perfect, he should be able to make the right decision here.

Mike – I hate to see this kind of thing. It’s not just a mistake, it’s a terrible mistake. Jelavic could barely be more onside if he was sat in the car park at the other end of the ground.

Simon F – It’s a tight decision, but Jelavic is definitely onside and in the position the assistant is, he has no excuse for getting this one wrong.

Michael – Everton certainly have cause to feel aggrieved here. Jelavic is quite clearly onside when the ball is played. Difficult to defend the linesman for it too. No one stepped up quickly and the official was well-positioned. Definitely one of the more inexplicable decisions you are likely to see.

Overall Verdict – Incorrect Decision

Stracqualursi Goal Disallowed For Offside

Simon M – Fellaini is offside, his run and attempt to get to the ball would definitely have affected the keeper’s movement, so he’s definitely influencing play. I think the officials did well here.

Ben – Fellaini is certainly active and as he was offside when the ball was played, the linesman got this one right.

Mike – On balance, I think the ref gets this one right. Fellaini is offside and does enough to be a nuisance to the keeper, so it has to be called back for offside, really.

Simon F – Just like Gervinho, Fellaini is indeed gaining an advantage by being in an offside position and this time it was called correctly by the officials

Michael – This one served to highlight how things SHOULD have gone at the Emirites in the Van Persie incident. Fellaini is in an offside position, tries to play the ball, and despite not touching the ball he influences the defenders around him. Whatever happens after that is irrelevant. Correct decision.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

Blackburn – Wigan

Hoillett Penalty Shout

Simon M – Think it says an awful lot about the mindset and mentality of the Blackburn players that they were staring relegation in the face and didn’t challenge what looked like a stonewall penalty. Poor decision from the officials.

Ben – A big decision in a match that had a big influence on the relegation of Blackburn Rovers. I think they would have gone down anyway but this should have given them a great chance to take it in to the final round of games

Mike – Perhaps if Hoilett’s leg flies off and decapitates a fan the referee might have given it? I don’t know. It’s a penalty all day long, though.

Simon F – A clear kick on the ankle from Boyce, and he was lucky to get away with it. Blackburn should have had a penalty.

Michael – Blackburn can feel very badly done-to with this one. A key moment in a massive game and it goes against them. I think it should have been a penalty as Boyce denied Hoilett his footing without ever really getting near the ball. Tough call for Rovers.

Overall Verdict – Incorrect Decision

Liverpool – Chelsea

Carroll Penalty

Simon M – is this the funniest debatable decision we’ve covered? Perhaps Ivanovic was hoping for a red so that he could get some extra time off before watching the Champions League final in the stands. A penalty, but I think I would have given a red card too.

Ben – The glance gives it away, Ivanovic has no desire to play the ball here, instead he just takes Carroll out. It’s the type of treatment Andy Carroll gets almost every week, I think the referee has to give a penalty.

Mike – It’s a bit of a coming together, but because Ivanovic looks at Carroll and seems to direct a bit of a barge into him, it should have been a penalty.

Simon F – A stonewall penalty, and one that I believe should have resulted in a red card. Ivanovic looks at Carroll as the ball comes over, lines him up and forcefully elbows him. In my book that constitutes violent conduct worthy of a red card.

Michael – I love this incident, purely for Ivanovic’s failure in attempted sneakiness. He had a little look at the situation, decided he really didn’t fancy getting involved in a physical contest with Carroll, and decided to try some subtle trickery instead. Unfortunately, this piece of defending was the football equivalent of Wile E Coyote freezing the cartoon frame, holding up a sign saying “tee hee hee”, and preceding to drop an acme-branded anvil intended for the Roadrunner on his own foot. Got what it deserved, really. Penalty kick.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

Suarez Arm In Ivanovic’s Face (nothing given)

Simon M – You wonder what goes through Luis Suarez’s head sometimes. Various other issues throughout the season, suddenly finds his goalscoring form, his team bossing the Champions league finalists in the final home game of the season and he decides to do this. It beggars belief, but worse than the fact he did it is the fact he got away with it.

Ben – It’s not obvious, I can see why the officials miss it but I think there is enough force there to warrant a red card. If it was a natural movement, the force would have been much less.

Mike – I think this is an honest tussle for the ball, despite the reputation and past form Suarez has, I have to give him the benefit of the doubt here because I don’t see enough to convince me it’s deliberate. Could still technically be accused of dangerous play, I suppose.

Simon F – I struggled to figure out just why Suarez had done this, but like Ivanovic he should have walked for violent conduct. It’s a fairly vicious forearm smash and should have been seen by one of the officials.

Michael – Naughty, very naughty. Clearly born out of sheer frustration, but there seemed to be a little malicious intent behind it too. By the letter of the law, it was violent conduct and should have been sent off. I would love to try and defend this one a little with the ‘man’s game, let men get on with it argument’, but I just can’t justify Suarez’s actions within the context of competing for the ball. Should have seen red, I think.

Overall Verdict – Incorrect Decision

Essien Tackle On Carroll (Yellow Given)

Simon M – An absolutely disgusting tackle. Nevermind one leg, it could have broken both of Carroll’s legs and the Liverpool striker is lucky not to have had his Euro 2012 hopes crushed by a tackle that I don’t think anyone can defend. Doubt anyone can defend the ref on this one either, a yellow for that? You’ve got to be joking.

Ben – This is a genuinely nasty tackle. It baffles me that this can be seen as a yellow card. It really does.

Mike – A horrible challenge. Reckless and incredibly dangerous. A certain red card.

Simon F – A disgraceful tackle, and Kevin Friend was no more than five yards away from this challenge with a clear line of sight and yet deemed this worthy of only a yellow card. Had Carroll’s leg been planted we would have seen a sickening injury, and frankly it’s one of the worst tackles I’ve seen in a long time.

Michael – A jumping two-footed stamp from behind – how on earth was this one deemed a yellow card offence? You could excuse a referee for not seeing it, but to see it and deem it unworthy of flashing red is frankly ludicrous and frankly a little worrying.

Overall Verdict – Incorrect Decision

***You can follow all five judges on Twitter; Simon M – @Deb_Decisions, Ben – @0Neji, Ant – @Acidburn81, Mike – @Mike7077 and Simon F – @SFurnivall.***