Burnley Vs West Ham | Cole goal ruled offside

Description of incident: A cross was delivered into the Burnley area from the right wing, missing both Parker & Cole. At the back post, Tomkins got a boot to the ball and Cole stabbed the returning ball into the empty net - only for the ref to disallow it for offside.

Date of Game: Saturday 6th February 2010

Home Team: Burnley | Away Team: West Ham

Referee: Howard Webb | Linesman: Dave Bryan & Bob Pollock

Decision Type: Offside | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 1/5

Affect on Result: N/A | Winner: Burnley | Loser: West Ham

Players Involved: Carlton Cole & Scott Parker (West Ham)

Summary: When the ball was originally crossed in, Parker was offside and he did make a failed attempt to reach the ball. When Tomkins returned the ball into the six yard box, both Cole & Parker were a long way offside. Easy decision, they got it right, no goal.



Cheers,
WB

Share|

Share|

Liverpool Vs Tottenham | Ngog awarded penalty

Description of incident: The ball was bouncing on the edge of the Tottenham penalty area as Ngog came racing forward. He got his foot to the ball as Bassong, coming from inside the penalty area, made a challenge. Ngog came crashing down and the referee gave a penalty.

Date of Game: Wednesday 20th January 2010


Home Team: Liverpool | Away Team: Tottenham

Referee: Howard Webb | Linesman: Peter Kirkup & Shaun Procter-Green

Decision Type: Penalty | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 5/5

Affect on Result: I don't believe Tottenham would have scored in the time remaining so, none | Winner: Liverpool | Loser: Tottenham

Players Involved: Sebastien Bassong (Tottenham) & David Ngog (Liverpool)

Summary: Another really tough decision. I think it's an obvious foul so there are two things that we need to take into account here. Firstly, was it inside the area? Based mainly upon Bassong's position, I believe the contact did take place inside the area. Even with a number of video replays I found it hard to know for sure - but I have only managed to find 2 different camera angles so far. Secondly, was Bassong in control of the ball? You have to say that he wasn't. The ball was almost in Gomes' hands by the time Ngog fell to the ground. I've seen them given and being honest, I've changed my verdict from right to wrong whilst writing this summary. It was such a rough challenge I think you get distracted from how hard Ngog had kicked the ball. No penalty, wrong decision by the referee.

I'm glad this game only had two controversial refereeing decisions. The toughest game to analyse yet. By a mile.

Cheers,
WB

Share|

Share|

Liverpool Vs Tottenham | Defoe ruled offside saving Reina's blushes

Description of incident: King launched the ball forward from deep inside the Tottenham half. Defoe was making his way back onside and made no attempt to chase the ball. As it dropped 30 yards from Liverpool's goal Reina came racing out as Kyrgiakos reached the ball & passed it back to the Spanish stopper. At this point Defoe, from an onside position, came forward to challenge Reina who, in the meantime, had got his feet in a real tangle. Defoe simply rolled the ball into the empty net. As it rolled towards the line, the ref blew his whistle to award offside. Phew!

Date of Game: Wednesday 20th January 2010

Home Team: Liverpool | Away Team: Tottenham

Referee: Howard Webb | Linesman: Peter Kirkup & Shaun Procter-Green

Decision Type: Offside | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 5/5

Affect on Result: Denied Spurs an equaliser & who's to say which way the game would have swung if it had gone to 1-1 | Winner: Liverpool | Loser: Tottenham

Players Involved: Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Jose Reina & Sotirios Kyrgiakos (Liverpool)

Summary: I've given this decision a difficulty score of 5 as I think the state of the current offside rule is almost impossible to interpret. Phase 2 onside or whatever it's called creates too much of a grey area. I'm all for going back to the simple days of blowing for offside when the ball was originally launched forward. Having said all that, assuming I'm understanding the laws of the game correctly, Defoe was not offside. Once Kyrgiakos touches the ball, Defoe is instantly onside. I'm not even sure it matters whether he'd made his way onside or not. "Phase 2" starts with the defenders touch. But even if I'm wrong there, the fact is Defoe did make his way back onside AND had made not attempt to challenge for or chase the ball prior to Kyrgiakos' touch. Tough decision, but the goal should have stood.

I actually found this decision painful to make.

Cheers,
WB

Share|

Share|

Wolverhampton Vs Wigan Athletic | Thomas sending off

Description of incident: Thomas was sent off for two bookable offenses; one in the first half for a two footed tackle that was deemed dangerous although he got the ball, the second for a late scything tackle.

Date of Game: Saturday 16th January 2010

Home Team: Wolverhampton Wanderers | Away Team: Wigan Athletic

Referee: Howard Webb | Linesman: Darren Cann & Mike Cairns

Decision Type: Red card | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 2/5

Affect on Result: N/A | Winner: Wolverhampton | Loser: Wigan Athletic

Players Involved: Hendry Thomas (Wigan)

Summary: Relatively easy decision for me. There was some debate over the first as he got the ball, but you cannot lead with both feet in the current game. The second was late, off the ground and scissor-like - no argument, 2 yellows and a red.

Cheers,
WB

Share|

Share|

Wolverhampton Vs Wigan Athletic | McCarthy penalty & Stearman red card

Description of incident: The ball was bouncing awkwardly high inside the Wolves penalty area. McCarthy ran onto the ball and collided with Stearman. The result being the ref awarding a penalty to Wigan and sending Stearman off for his second yellow card offense.

Date of Game: Saturday 16th January 2010

Home Team: Wolverhampton Wanderers | Away Team: Wigan Athletic

Referee: Howard Webb | Linesman: Darren Cann & Mike Cairns

Decision Type: Penalty | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 3/5

Decision Type: Red card | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 2/5

Affect on Result: Losing a player relatively early in the game made Wolves chances of getting a positive result slim | Winner: Wigan Athletic | Loser: Wolverhampton

Players Involved: James McCarthy (Wigan) & Richard Stearman (Wolves)

Summary: I think the penalty was a tough decision and maybe a little harsh on Wolves however, if you have an arm wrapped around an opponent's chest inside your own penalty area, like Stearman did, you're asking for trouble. For that reason I side with ref on the penalty call. However, the sending off I think he got wrong. The contact was light, the player was going away from goal and barely in control of the high bouncing ball. For me penalty, no second yellow.

Cheers,
WB

Share|

Share|