#7 Controversial decisions
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(a) Lamine Kone of Sunderland was highly fortunate to not concede a penalty after what appeared to be a blatant foul on Juan Mata. The Spaniard only had eyes for the aerial ball but Kone not so much. He shoulder-challenged Mata but referee Martin Atkinson waved play on, considering it to be probably just another 50-50.
(b) Craig Pawson continued his questionable performance with 11 bookings (yes, you read that right!) at Turf Moor, in what was not even a remotely temperamental fixture.
(c) Mike Dean sent off Nathan Redmond in what appears to be a harsh call during the fixture against Spurs. The referee awarded Spurs a penalty for Redmond’s ‘pull’ on Alli; the Saints striker’s offence should have been punished where it was first committed – outside the box. Instead, Dean chose to play advantage (which is fair, of course) and took his own time to send off Redmond.
Point to ponder: How Cesc Fabregas escaped a booking during Chelsea’s outing against Bournemouth remains a mystery. Well not so much if you consider the Spaniard’s repeated appeals with folded hands eh?
