Ba Penalty Shout
Simon M – A very difficult one to call, yet Twitter lit up at the sight of it and had it down as a stonewall penalty. For me, it was a penalty, the striker is impeded and as with a poorly timed tackle, it doesn’t have to be intentional for a penalty to be given, but Ba was definitely impeded.
Ben – No penalty for me, just a tangle of legs, I don’t think there was a foul by Ferdinand. It wasn’t an easy decision for Webb, nor for me. Ferdinand doesn’t make the contact, he plants his foot and Ba seems to run into it.
Ant – Looks like a tangle of legs with no intent to foul from either player, no chance I would have given a penalty.
Mike – The commentator’s uncertainty mirrors my own here. It looks like a tangle of legs, but from the final angle, Ferdinand probably looks culpable for a foul. I’m going to err on the side of caution and say the two players got in a tangle together.
Simon F – Ferdinand clearly trips Ba, whether it was intentional or not makes no difference. It should have been a penalty.
Overall Verdict – Correct Decision
Donovan Penalty Shout
Simon M – I don’t think it was a dive, but I don’t think it was a penalty either. He loses his footing and tumbles over, the appeals are a little distasteful, but thankfully the referee wasn’t conned into giving the wrong decision.
Ben – Looks suspiciously like a dive to me. There is a minuscule amount of contact when Ricketts puts his hand on Donovan’s shoulder. Feeling it, Donovan tries to con the referee by hitting the deck, no penalty.
Ant – I don’t think Donovan dived but I do think he fell over there was little to no contact so never a penalty.
Mike – I don’t think there’s any real contact here. I think Donovan is running at full pelt and loses his footing, which makes for a dramatic tumble. A penalty would have been very harsh.
Simon F – Donovan makes a clever run across Ricketts, but I can’t see any impeding or trip from the Bolton defender, so for once Phil Dowd got it right.
Overall Verdict – Correct Decision
Barry Two Yellows.
Simon M – My first thought was that this was a little harsh, but then I watched it again and whilst neither tackle was nasty, they were both stupid and deliberate. Probably worthy of two yellows and should have known better for the second, considering he was already on one.
Ben – I’m not sure those two fouls deserved a red card. I like referees to show some common sense and I think he could have easily have let Barry off with the second yellow. It seems a little bit strange to see someone get sent off for two largely inoffensive fouls.
Ant – The first foul was a stupid one with the ball long gone, once again a footballer shows how much of an idiot they can be by making a second stupid challenge whilst already on a yellow.
Mike – The first one is a tad soft in that contact is minimal, but as the ball is well gone, probably just about fair. With the second one, again the ball has gone, and Barry’s body shape clearly suggests and attempt to impede, which was silly.
Simon F – The first was perhaps a little soft, but Custard Pants was very late with his challenge. The second was a clearly cynical foul to stop Agger and certainly deserving of a yellow card.
Overall Verdict – Correct Decision
Man City Penalty
Simon M – Skrtel’s had a few of these over the last few weeks, desperate flicks of the leg when the ball has gone and the result is a penalty or a free kick, he should know better and got what he deserved.
Ben – The first replay made this look pretty clear but the following one I saw (from behind play) was a different story. There is very little contact, I do however think there is just enough to impede the City attacker.
Ant – I don’t think there was enough contact to justify a penalty for me he dived. The behaviour of Mancini was an absolute disgrace and the FA should take action for this kind of thing.
Mike – Another case of minimal contact, but in this instance, probably enough of a trip to warrant a penalty. Disappointed in Mancini’s behaviour here, though.
Simon F – There is no initial contact between the players, and Toure is well on his way down before there is a slight clash of knees. Given the referee’s position, however, it is very easy to see why he gave it, but for me it wasn’t a penalty.
Overall Verdict – Correct Decision
McLean Possibly Offside In Build Up To Goal
Simon M – He’s onside, plain and simple. It’s close, but definitely on.
Ben – This was an extremely difficult decision for the linesman. The replay angle didn’t prove it one way or another so I’m going to give the benefit of doubt to the officials on this one.
Ant – He was level which obviously means he was onside.
Mike – That doesn’t look offside to me. He’s level.
Simon F – This is the tightest of tight calls, I genuinely can’t make my mind up as to whether he’s on or offside, so the benefit of the doubt rightly went with the attacker.
Overall Verdict – Correct Decision
Gervinho Penalty Shout
Simon M – In fairness to the referee, the way Gervinho goes down does seem a little unnatural, as if he’s realised he’s been caught and decided to go down. However, he was definitely caught and a penalty should have been awarded.
Ben – The key to making the right call here is whether Senderos makes any contact at all with the ball. I initially thought he might have brushed the ball but after several viewings, I can’t actually see any contact apart from with Gervinho.
Ant – I think Gervinho knows what he is doing when he goes down but he was tripped and this should ahve been a penalty.
Mike – I’m sure Senderos leaves his foot in thinking he can take the ball, but the ball has well gone and it’s a blatant trip on Gervinho. Should have been a penalty.
Simon F – I suspect the theatrical fall may have put the referee off, but there is no doubt that Gervinho is tripped and Lee Probert was in the perfect position to have seen it.
Overall Verdict – Incorrect Decision
Djourou Two Yellows
Simon M – The first is a yellow, no arguments there and it’s quite a nasty tackle, but the second is really soft. If you’re telling me that a player on a yellow can’t go shoulder to shoulder with an opponent for fear of seeing a second yellow, then there’s something seriously wrong with the game.
Ben – Summing up the referee’s job – I’m not sure on this one. The first is a definite yellow, absolutely no arguments can be had with it. The second, I’m not so sure. The one thing I will say is that if the referee gives the foul, he has to brandish the second yellow card too. I’m going to say correct call because it probably was a foul but I can’t help but think that it was still a little harsh.
Ant – The first challenge was easy a yellow card the second although harsh was a foul and in that position I think there needs to be another yellow card given.
Mike – The first one is comfortably a yellow card. It’s not a pleasant tackle at all. But the second looks to me like two players competing for the ball and to give a foul looks harsh, let alone a second yellow card.
Simon F – The first there is no doubt over whatsoever. The second yellow is more questionable, but Djourou does pull Zamora back a little, and the second booking was probably just about the right call.
Overall Verdict – Incorrect Decision
Lampard Possible Red
Simon M – This was a red and I do think it was a horror tackle. There was a lot of talk about the potential to cause injury to an opponent, after the Kompany tackle and this tackle from Lampard could easily have broken the Wolves lad’s leg. Nasty, really nasty and he knew what he was doing.
Ben – Another difficult one to call, first of all, I don’t think there was any malicious intent there. I dare say that it wasn’t bad enough of a tackle to warrant a red, it’s time for my favourite orange card! As the referee doesn’t have that option, I think a yellow was a the right choice. I can however see the arguments for a red.
Ant – I heard people on twitter and the radio calling this a horror tackle. They overreacted big time, once foot is off the floor but I do not think there was intent to hurt the player in any way at all.
Mike – It’s a studs-up challenge but it’s one-footed and is a genuine attempt to try and reach a ball, albeit one that’s probably out of reach. I think a yellow is just about okay here. I can understand why some would call for a red, though.
Simon F – Absolutely no question, this was a poor tackle from Lampard and should have resulted in a red card.
Overall Verdict – Correct Call
Cole Possible Red
Simon M – The first tackle from Cole was reckless and worthy of a yellow, he then kicks his opponent when he’s on the ground, which is another yellow. I could have gone with him seeing red for this, a horrible attitude.
Ben – I say this is an incorrect decision but only on the basis that Cole wasn’t booked, I don’t think he should have been sent off. The actual foul probably warranted a yellow card and then he appeared to kick out at Doyle on the floor so I can see there being arguments for him to go but it was nothing more than handbags really. The right decisions would have been a yellow card for Cole as well as the yellow Doyle received for his reaction.
Ant – I don’t see anything that would warrant a red card here so yellow was fine.
Mike – I’m not sure what the red card offence would have been there. A yellow seems fair.
Simon F – Neither incident (the original foul or the slight kick) are in themselves worthy of a red card, in my opinion, and though both could have seen him booked, my feeling is that a yellow card would have sufficed.
Overall Verdict – Correct Decision
Barton Red Card
Simon M – I don’t get the fuss about Johnson, he turns away and rubs his face when he could easily have thrown himself to the ground and rolled around in agony, if anything he’s given a better account of himself than a majority of the players in the Premier League. Barton aims his head at him, that’s a red. Tough.
Ben – Another case of handbags, if the referee shows a bit of common sense he can have a word with both players, maybe even book one or both, then let the game continue. There was nothing particularly violent about Barton’s actions and so I don’t think the red card was the correct decision. Sticking up for Barton? I feel dirty all over.
Ant – This is a complete joke the Norwich player is a cheat it is as simple as that. People were all over Barton when he went down against Gervinho yet hardly anyone has mentioned Johnson cheating.
Mike – It’s one of those occasions where the “victim” almost seems to come out of it with more damage to his reputation than the culprit. Still, Barton does aim his head at Johnson, and you just can’t do that.
Simon F – An odd one, as neither the referee nor his assistant appear to react in any way to the violent conduct for which Barton is sent off. If they had seen it, they are obliged to stop the game immediately and deal with the situation. I’m not sure how they’ve come to the conclusion that Barton should go, as I don’t even believe his actions constituted violent conduct, an all round incorrect decision.
Overall Verdict – Incorrect Decision
Samba Disallowed Goal
Simon M – A bizarre decision. Does anyone know why it was disallowed? The commentator seems to be suggesting it’s for a foul on Sorenson and I see no foul and no real appeal from the Stoke keeper.
Ben – I’m not sure what this was disallowed for, the commentary seems to suggest it was for a foul on Sorenson. Talk about goalkeepers being over protected. Samba certainly doesn’t do anything wrong here and I can’t actually see a foul on the goalkeeper either.
Ant – Samba did not do anything wrong and I could not see a clear foul on Sorenson either, for me this should have stood.
Mike – I think it’s hard to tell from the view we get. At first, I was convinced Stoke had had yet another one go in their favour. But from behind the goal, I get the feeling there is a bit of holding going on. Yakubu looks to be tugging at Sorensen just a bit. For that reason, I’d say it was probably right to disallow it
Simon F – It took a few views, but I think this is an excellent spot from the officials. Yakubu has been very sneaky in just grabbing Sorenson’s arm and stopping him coming to claim the ball. He could have easily got away with it, but the right decision was made.
Overall Verdict – Incorrect Decision
0 votes
