The Ref Stop

Liverpool V Spurs

Kane dived for me. At first I thought the assistant got the penalty right but if you watch carefully, Lamela is looking for that all day, sees Van Dijk about to kick and throws himself into it, Moss was right to deny it. I can understand why the assistant thinks it was though because it looked clumsy from Van Dijk.
TBH on first replay I thought this but the 2nd replay changed my mind.
 
The Ref Stop
Superb match and terrific refereeing for me; let's give credit to the officials where it is due. This was the tipping point in terms of wilful ignorance; for the average fan down the pub, it's an interesting talking point and understandable. For certain paid pundits not to know Kane was played onside, and so shamelessly to assume the higher ground, was galling (even as an Arsenal fan).
 
Ben, to answer your question, referees at the top level are told to "flash the cards", the authorities don't want lectures and talkings to as it slows down the game. That advice used to be down to L3, although I believe that L3s are no longer allowed to flash the cards and must take names.
That's correct, an email was recently circulated making it very clear that referees up to and including Level 2B, must follow the correct cautioning procedure.

EDIT - just realised Brian has said the exact same thing in a different thread! Point still stands however!
 
I knew straight away what that conversation meant between the AR and Moss and why the offside wasn't given. Because Lovren played the ball. There is an element of truth in that Lovren had to play it because Kane was behind him therefore affecting him because he can't risk the ball running through to Kane however I believe that isn't considered. A lot of Liverpool fans seem to think the AR was telling Moss it was offside and Moss ignored him...complete bias towards their team and a lack of understanding of the current rules. Kane didn't go down naturally and did exaggerate the fall but a pen in real time.

Second one, I thought the contact was minimal. I can see why Moss denied it...he probably thought Lamela made a meal of it, but the AR would have seen the kick from further away. I'm not sure how much contact was made. On one angle it looks like the defender had just brushed Lamela, like a gentle touch of his leg hairs but on another it looks like the contact was a kick.

Finally, I'm quite happy for referees to let the game flow like Moss did today. Nothing worse in my opinion than an official trying to "control a game"or use game management excessively when it's not required, especially at the top level.
 
I just found a new angle on the second pen and now I think it was really harsh. VVD sets up to kick the ball, pulls out of the kick when he sees/senses Lamela - it is not conclusive that the original kicking action makes any contact - Lamela acts like he has been shot at the point VVD would have kicked him, and then VVD's knee does make contact with Lamela as part of some kind of follow through.

What can you call here? See it as the original has connected and call PK? Call no initial contact and penalise the dive? Call no initial contact, no dive and penalise the knee - which is what I think Smart has done? What would a VAR have done? With a replay you can can see Lamela clearly simulate before the knee - so would VAR give YC/IDFK?

Given all this I think Moss made the initial decision that football expects. VVD looked like he did very well to avoid connecting with the kick and pulls out of the clearance, Lamela dives, there is some contact - Moss says not enough, waves play on... that is what we are used to. I now think the AR has got this wrong, because a VAR would not have reversed Moss' no call. But then I am a Liverpool fan with far too many "knowledgable Spurs fans" as mates!
 
In disbelief about the BBC's decision to put subtitles on Jon Moss for the first penalty decision. Surely that's a form of defamation, as it doesn't look great for him. Decision was right, but he seemed not to be sure about Lovren's touch. If nobody can verify that touch, should the offside stand? Also, was the Karius red card forgotten in the chaos?? I thought the managers' responses to the officials at full time were exemplary, especially Pochettino's; that's heartening when we are so accustomed to misconduct. Edit: Karius' yellow card
 
Last edited:
Since VAR is supposed to be used for clear and obvious errors surely there is no argument for it to be used here as there has been a massive discussion with people saying PK/No PK and definitely not a clear and obvious error...
That's what I mean. If there had been VAR and Moss had waived this away with no AR intervention, would the VAR have gone back for a penalty at the next break in play? I don't think so.
 
What the majority of pundits/fans don't realise, is that if Kane is offside for the first penalty incident, then so is Salah's for his first goal, its the same rule!

Watching the blank expressions after explaining this is amusing.
 
I've just seen another angle of the second penalty and its the biggest dive ever, it looked all the world a penalty in the game but when you see this one you will change your mind! I smell a retro ban for simulation...

Skip to 6'-48'', hes not touched him!!!
 
Last edited:
What the majority of pundits/fans don't realise, is that if Kane is offside for the first penalty incident, then so is Salah's for his first goal, its the same rule!
....
Please don't say you can't see a difference. The ball is clearly deliberately played by a Spurs defender to Salah. Lovren deflects the ball to Kane. I'm with Hackett. Otherwise you're having to judge when a ball hits a defender's leg, whether he meant to put his leg there? (Would that make it a deliberate play?)

In any case, neither official knew if Lovren had touched the ball. How can you give a penalty when the attacker was in an offside position and you don't know if a defender had touched it (whether you call it deliberate or deflection)? If you don't know if he touched the ball at all, it really doesn't sound like you saw him deliberately play it. Daft decision.
 
Here is another vid
https://ok.ru/video/712436025958


Just about everything in the two pen decisions could have gone either way and it would have not been an error and just an ITOOTR decision.

Pen 1: it’s at 5.45 on my vid with a telling replay at 6.50. Firstly, is it offside (play or rebound – or as the way its taught now, was it an action or reaction). At first look it’s a play (action) but on replays there is a slight deflection by red #5 (Wijnaldum) after the pass is made which made Lovren’s touch more of a re-action. I would lean offside but if the referee on the day says no offside I am ok with it an wouldn’t call it an error.

Kane was not fouled in my opinion. He went down on his own will. Replay at 7.05 supports this. However, the fact that there was a slight contact, again the referee decision was not a clear error.

Pen 2: At 8.45 on vid. No doubt there was contact. Was it enough to make it careless. I would say yes after replays but not a clear cut one. And that’s why the AR should have kept his flag down. My instructions to my AR is don’t over rule me unless you are absolutely sure I have dropped obvious howler. This was not a obvious howler but more of an opinion. Either decision could have been supported with a pen given being a more likely one.
 
Here is another vid
https://ok.ru/video/712436025958

Pen 2: At 8.45 on vid. No doubt there was contact. Was it enough to make it careless. I would say yes after replays but not a clear cut one. And that’s why the AR should have kept his flag down. My instructions to my AR is don’t over rule me unless you are absolutely sure I have dropped obvious howler. This was not a obvious howler but more of an opinion. Either decision could have been supported with a pen given being a more likely one.

Slowed it down and he was simulating before the defenders leg came back at him... they should ban him for that, defo simulation to con a Lino, in this case!!!!!
 
Slowed it down and he was simulating before the defenders leg came back at him... they should ban him for that, defo simulation to con a Lino, in this case!!!!!
This is the moment of contact
1517790360423.png
I don't see how he is simulating before that. Yes he goes down like a sack of potatoes after but there was contact made beforehand.
 
Please don't say you can't see a difference. The ball is clearly deliberately played by a Spurs defender to Salah. Lovren deflects the ball to Kane. I'm with Hackett. Otherwise you're having to judge when a ball hits a defender's leg, whether he meant to put his leg there? (Would that make it a deliberate play?)

In any case, neither official knew if Lovren had touched the ball. How can you give a penalty when the attacker was in an offside position and you don't know if a defender had touched it (whether you call it deliberate or deflection)? If you don't know if he touched the ball at all, it really doesn't sound like you saw him deliberately play it. Daft decision.

Well he didn't deliberately play the ball to Salah himself, he deliberately played the ball and Salah intercepted. It falls under the same line of definition.

Lovren meets this criteria as soon as he makes a delebrate attempt to play the ball, his technical limitations in regards to control and execution are irrelevant to the LOG.

Its black and white, you cant have one without the other.
 
It's amazing; I disagree quite literally with every point Keith Hackett makes in that Telegraph article (besides the Lamela incident) despite watching the same match. The decisions, the way they came to them, the public handshakes. It proves again that interpretation is everything in this game.
 
Back
Top