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Do you ever fear that, despite knowing this or any part of law very thoroughly, you might commit a clanger? I keep envisaging that I'll blow the whistle, prompted by CAR, before I remember it was from a goal kick. Heaven forbid that it were a game-changer. I suppose the only possible excuse is...

I forgot my bananas this morning, so perhaps I was running low on sugar and that rendered the end of the second half difficult. The first match was delayed due to a touch-and-go decision on a frozen pitch, so one always wonders whether the teams left waiting for 15 minutes start with...

I had a couple of issues with this type of scenario this weekend. I was refereeing a division 1 under 13 match, and the home team in particular had obviously been practising quick free kicks so as to keep the ball moving. On a few occasions this was a very risky choice (e.g. going back to the...

That is nasty/dangerous in my opinion. However, if you're questioning whether I would give that in real time, without the benefit of several replays/stills, I see your point.

When I began writing this message, I was in agreement. However, the more I watch it, the more I think white shirt is out of control, going over the top with excessive force. Maybe that strange swing of the leg was evasive action. A very difficult one in the moment for the official.

Obviously I appreciate the feedback of other referees, and always try to react to the nuances within law. Interestingly, the USSF has been more in line with my 'result-based' interpretation since at least 2011. I'll leave it there, as I think this thread has had enough tangents!

I agree and have always applied it as NLR suggests. I think a more a sensible interpretation of the law is that a deliberate pass that ends up being touched by the keeper's hands is punishable. This allows us to focus on empirical results rather than thorny questions of intent. It needn't even...

Maybe a good rule of thumb is whether it would be deemed an own goal if the ball went directly into the goal. In this instance, that's hardly going to be the Spurs' player's goal, is it? We could also apply the handball logic: the pass travels at least 8 yards before reaching the defender. Plus...

Interesting, thanks; my confusion arises from the fact that the earliest approved decisions for this law (albeit abroad) did include Lovren's type of touch, whatever might be the consensus now. I think perhaps the definition of a save should be extended, or deliberate 'pass' replace 'action' (if...

I know this sounds strange, but I actually think the assistant and/or Moss DID see that touch. Otherwise it's simply not feasible to me that deliberate action would even be in the conversation. At one point, the assistant says, "if he has touched the ball, it's a deliberate action." Why is he so...

Fair play to Gallagher. The criticism of Moss seems to me unwarranted. I recall that he has overseen some very tight, controversial matches in recent seasons (Leicester vs. West Ham--2-2--where he received awful abuse from the eventual champions; Arsenal vs. Burnley--2-1; now yesterday's...

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.

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...

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...

I agree with you, and thanks for the clarifications. I suppose all I was saying was that I suspect keepers get a bit more leeway than other players in terms of what constitutes a challenge. I will be interested to see what a referee awards when a keeper bumps into a slowly retreating attacker...

I am happy to accept the Bristol City example as a challenge on the goalkeeper while he releases it, so it's the correct decision. There have been instances where the goalkeeper is at fault, however. Posts on this topic in the past have suggested that if a goalkeeper was prevented from releasing...

I thought it was appropriate to resurrect this discussion in light of Bristol City's disallowed goal this evening. Was Mike Dean correct to invoke this law? It seems that referees now use it to solve all tricky situations where goalkeepers lose possession in crowded boxes. The law has been...

Personally I would have very little patience with a player who came up to me with that sort of complaint. Can't stand the heat etc. I agree with Rusty: if it's not clear to me instantly that it's offinabus, I will move on. Any attempt to draw my attention to potentially offensive language is...

To be honest, much of this is easier to decide in practice than theory. My point is not that morally repugnant statements should never be sending off offences. I am saying that, by and large, they are very small considerations compared to impact upon a person. If a player uses a few profanities...