Oh good the FA changed their interpretation of the confusing rules on holding at corners and somehow made it even more fucking confusing. Bravo lads! And if referees don't know when to give a penalty then how is a manager supposed to know and how are we meant to be in the loop?
The story so far; There's too much holding at corners, the FA tries to crack down on it, Mike Dean gives two penalties in one game and we think "good, that'll stop it quickly", even if one of those penalties was questionable at best. Week two swings round and there's three could be penalty shouts that all go in different ways and we're all as lost as a bloke in the lingerie section of Marks and Spencer. (Seriously where do you look without looking like a right perve?!)
The most baffling non decision of yesterday was Robert Madley's decision not to give Liverpool a penalty against Spurs when Jan Vertonghen did everything he could to actually hand a spot kick to Jurgen Klopp's team, wrestling Joel Matip to the ground. The ref saw the whole incident but rather than wait for the ball to be in play he waited for the last second as James Milner was about to take a corner to blow his whistle and simply warn the Belgian. If he'd left it a fraction longer it would have been a pen.
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Images via The Sun
After the match the former Borussia Dortmund manager was honest in admitting he hasn't a clue what the rules are and reckoned the ref could have just waited a moment longer before whistling:
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"If the ref waits one second then it is 100 per cent a penalty, do we have to make the corner quicker?
"Ask him what the rules are. I've no idea what is right.
"I would prefer he said nothing and watched the situation and then it is a penalty."
Last week Mike Dean gave two penalties in the Stoke City versus Manchester City match for holding at corners with at least one of those being questionable whilst he also didn't give Stoke a very blatant penalty for a standard trip in the box. And Dean was at it again giving a spot kick to Crystal Palace against Bournemouth for holding in the area.
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Mark Hughes' side were also on the end of another controversial decision when Michael Oliver decided that Ashley Williams had been fouled in the area when there seemed little contact. The Stoke manager even admitted he may have to change to zonal marking to eradicate the risk of giving more 'pens' away.
The whole situation is a mess and until the FA sort it out we're going to be talking about this every sodding week.
(Via The Sun)
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Liverpool, Football, Referees, Premier League, Jurgen Klopp