Debatable Decisions EPL – Week 5

It’s Week 5 of the Premier League season and all of a sudden referees and teams have decided to go buck mad, with over 20 big debatable decisions for the team to discuss this week. Going through these was tough going and probably tired our judges out, which is why we failed to get a pod done this week. We’ll be back with the pod next week, in the meantime; enjoy!

Everton – Newcastle

Jelavic Goal Ruled Out Offside

Simon M – This is fairly straight forward, he’s offside ever so slightly, but he is definitely offside. Good call by the linesman.

Mike – The angle we’re given does make him look offside, but we’re not looking straight down the line. I think the Newcastle defender might just be playing him on. It couldn’t be much closer, but, in the absence of as more telling angle, I’ll side with the officials and say he was just offside.

Ant – A great call by the linesman Jelavic is just off side and it’s well spotted.

Simon F – The very definition of gaining an advantage by being in an offside position.

Callum – Definitely offside. No complaints can be had there.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

Anichebe Shot Possibly Over Line

Simon M – I say possibly because these decisions are supposed to be debatable, but I don’t think there is any debate to be had about this one. It’s clearly over the line and whilst I understand the speed of play and the power with which the ball was struck and eventually cleared, I still think the linesman should have got this.

Mike – The ball does appear to have crossed the line here.

Ant – The replays suggest the ball was over the line but these things are so hard for the officials to spot, it’s an incorrect decision.

Simon F – The whole of the ball has definitely crossed the line and the goal should have been awarded.

Callum – That looks over the line to me, should have been given as a goal.

Overall Verdict – Incorrect Decision

Fellaini Goal Ruled Out Offside

Simon M – Another tight one, but unfortunately on this occasion the officials got it wrong. He’s onside and the goal should have stood.

Mike – Fellaini is played onside by the last man failing to move out quickly enough.

Ant – Fellaini is well onside, is this the same linesman that called Jelavic offside?

Simon F – From the camera angle it’s tough to tell whether Fellaini’s head is offside or not, it took me a few looks but I think the defender’s back leg is just playing him onside. So I can understand why the official got it wrong, but it was wrong.

Callum – Linesman has had a shocker there, looks onside to me, Fellaini had timed his run perfectly.

Overall Verdict – Incorrect Decision

Southampton – Aston Villa

Mayuka Penalty and Guzan Yellow

Simon M – I don’t think there’s any doubt about the penalty, Mayuka is clearly fouled and brought down in the area. However, I think Guzan should have seen red for it. It’s a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Mike – People will say that Mayuka is going away from goal, but that’s because he has to be in order to round the keeper. It’s a clear foul and penalty, so it’s a CORRECT decision there, but Guzan also denies a clear goalscoring opportunity, which means it is INCORRECT not to send him off.

Ant – There’s not much contact and Mayuka makes sure the referee knows he was fouled but in that position a little contact is enough for a penalty.

Simon F – Correct decision (penalty), Incorrect decision (yellow card). The law states that “denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity to a opponent moving towards the player’s goal” is a sending off offence. I think what saved Guzan from the red here is that Mayuka’s touch sent the ball slightly wide, but I would certainly consider him travelling towards the goal and it was definitely a goalscoring opportunity, so a red card should have been shown along with the penalty awarded.

Callum – Should be a sending off for Guzan, he’s lucky there. Penalty the correct decision.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision x 1 & Incorrect Decision x 1

Swansea – Everton

Williams Yellow

Simon M – There’s another Swansea defender not too far away and deeper than Williams. I’m not sure he would have made much of a difference had Williams not fouled the Everton player, but he was there and might have, so a yellow was the right decision.

Mike – There is a defender further back, but I feel he would have struggled to get there. Nevertheless, he might have stood a chance, so I will say the yellow is just about right, although it’s right on the very edge of being a red.

Ant – I can see how some people would consider this a straight red card but for me a yellow was enough.

Simon F – Clearly the presence of the second defender has clouded the referee’s decision, but for me this was still a clear goalscoring opportunity as Anichebe would have had a one-on-one shot on goal before the covering defender could get across. Williams should have been sent off.

Callum – Yellow card. Not a cynical foul, just trying to win the ball, and he’s not the last man.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

Anichebe Goal/Fellaini Handball

Simon M – Says it all that you need a super zoomed in and freeze framed photo to tell that this was handled. Should have been a free kick to Swansea, but a very difficult one for the officials to spot.

Mike – This should have been a free-kick to Swansea as Fellaini clearly nudges the ball on with his arms.

Ant – Plain and simple cheating from Fellaini his arm clearly moves towards the ball to set up the goal.

Simon F – I was watching this game live and didn’t spot the handball, it wasn’t until seeing the slow motion replay that I caught it, but Fellaini clearly guides the ball to Anichebe with his arm and the goal should not have stood.

Callum – Yep, handball. God knows what the defender’s foot is doing up there though. Goal shouldn’t have stood.

Overall Verdict – Incorrect Decision

Dyer Two Yellows

Simon M – I think he probably should have got a straight red for the second tackle, it was absolutely terrible, high and overly aggressive. Not sure about the first yellow, but red overall was the correct decision.

Mike – It’s hard to tell what Dyer’s first booking is for. I do feel the challenge is worthy of one as he misses the ball and trips an onrushing player who would have made excellent ground. But it looks like the referee books him for backchat. I don’t necessarily mind this, but at the same time, he doesn’t appear to protest any worse than players regularly do, so it seems a bit harsh he should get booked. But then again, if you’ve made a clear foul, why not just get on with it? For the second yellow, he goes steaming in and can hardly complain about getting a yellow for it. On the balance of things, I think they get it just about right.

Ant – The first yellow was a bit harsh but just about deserved, why the hell did he run in like that when he was already on a yellow? A stupid thing to do and a deserved sending off.

Simon F – The first yellow card, whether it was for the challenge or ill discipline of answering back to the referee was fully justified, and the challenge for the second yellow card was verging on a straight red.

Callum – Don’t think there’s a case for a booking in the first tackle, don’t even think it’s a foul. However, the second is enough to warrant a straight red.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

Chelsea – Stoke

Ivanovic Penalty Shout

Simon M – The less said about this the better. It’s a woeful dive and makes Ashley Young’s penalties towards the end of last season look like actual penalties.

Mike – This is utterly embarrassing from Ivanovic. He might feel the slightest touch, but his fall to the ground is as unconvincing as you’ll see. There was nothing in it to give a penalty.

Ant – Another dive and in my opinion one of the worst of the season so far, there’s no one around him and I really hope eventually these sort of things are looked at and punished after the match.

Simon F – A dive of which even Luis Suárez would be ashamed.

Callum – Dive. Simple as that. Ivanovic should have been booked.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

Oscar Penalty Shout

Simon M – Everybody was going daft for this at the weekend and my colleagues in work were convinced it was a dive, I’m not. Shawcross sticks his arm up and grabs Oscar. Yes, it’s a little theatrical, but over egging the descent doesn’t mean it’s not a pen.

Mike – I think Oscar is blocked off by the falling defender. Whether he absolutely needs to go down is one thing, but unlike Ivanovic, he is definitely impeded. I think it should have been a penalty.

Ant – Another dive in my opinion he wasn’t in control of the ball and I think he thought if he fell over he might win something.

Simon F – There is brief contact between the two players, but not enough to impede Oscar, who looked like he was already on his way down anyway. Another one that the referee called correctly.

Callum – Think that’s a penalty, why is his arm that high?

Overall Verdict – Incorrect Decision

Luiz Challenge and Walters Reaction

Simon M – Horrible tackle, absolutely disgusting. Walters reaction is understandable and he could probably have went a little more mental and I would have understood why. Luiz should have been off the pitch as soon as the whistle went, a really poor decision. Had that been a Stoke player the world of Twitter would have went crazy.

Mike – Most of David Luiz stays on the floor, but at one point you can see his studs go into Walters’s shin. It was a reckless lunge, punishable, I feel with a red. INCORRECT. As for Walters, you could perhaps book him for his reaction, but I don’t think his arms go up to anyone’s face, so anything more would have been harsh. CORRECT.

Ant – I think Walters should have been booked for his reaction and I think Luiz should have been sent off. If this was a Stoke challenge I’m sure twitter would have gone a bit mad.

Simon F – A disgusting challenge from Luiz which should have been met with a red card and is the sort of tackle that I would like to see longer bans in place for. As for Walters’ reaction, I believe the current interpretation from referees is that a push to the chest is a bookable offence, and so he too should have been booked.

Callum – Hmmm. Seen them given, and his foot’s high, wouldn’t be able to argue with a red. However, Walters reaction is worthy of a card too.

Overall Verdict – Incorrect Decision

Possible Ivanovic Elbow

Simon M – MOTD highlighted this as if it was an actual elbow, but it looks like he’s sticking his arm out, fouling the Stoke player, but not elbowing him. Would have been incredibly soft to treat this like an actual elbow.

Mike – I think this is an honest attempt to outmuscle someone. I don’t see enough in it to be convinced it’s deliberate, although he does catch him.

Ant – The referee didn’t see this but to me there doesn’t seem much in it at all.

Simon F – It looks to me like Ivanovic knows exactly what he’s doing, blocking off the Stoke player’s run by throwing out his elbow. That constitutes violent conduct and he should have been sent off.

Callum – Six of one, half a dozen of the other for me.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

West Brom – Reading

McAnuff Penalty Shout #1

Simon M – It’s a foul, but it’s outside the area. The referee should have awarded a free kick.

Mike – It looks to me like there is a definite foul, but that it takes place outside the box, at least initially. I would say it is INCORRECT not to give a free-kick, but CORRECT not to give a penalty.

Ant – This is just a coming together and nothing more so no penalty.

Simon F – The referee got this wrong, but shouldn’t have awarded a penalty. There is an initial tangle, with which I see nothing wrong, but then Jones shoves McAnuff which causes him to fall. However, after watching a few times, I think the shove is outside the penalty area and a free kick would have been the correct decision.

Callum – Free-kick, as it occurred outside the box and McAnuff fell into the box.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

McAnuff Penalty Shout #2

Simon M – Exactly the same as the first one, but it takes place just inside the area. I think a penalty should have given and this was a poor decision from the referee.

Mike – I would say that this one, too, is a foul. I think it takes place right on the line, which, correct me if I’m wrong, would make it a penalty.

Ant – I don’t think this is a penalty either although not a blatant dive I think once McAnuff knocks the ball past the defenders he runs into him hoping to get a penalty.

Simon F – I think McAnuff has simply run into Jones on this occasion, looking for the decision and it was quite correctly not awarded.

Callum – Again, outside the area, should be a free-kick.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

Liverpool – Man Utd

Shelvey Red and Evans Tackle

Simon M – I’ve thought long and hard about this one and I’m still not convinced one way or the other about Evans, so I’m afraid I’m going to bottle it and let the referee’s decision stand. As for Shelvey, I thought it was more aggressive and there seemed to be more “intent” from him, he touched the ball through luck rather than actually going for it and I don’t think Halsey had any choice, but to send him off.

Mike – There are two separate decisions to make here. For me, there is a world of difference in the two challenges. Let’s start with Evans. Conceivably he should have been booked, but overall I thought it was quite a controlled challenge. He does leave the ground, which opens you up to the possibility of a red, but his left foot is nowhere near the challenge, while his right foot takes the ball and is on the ground before it’s anywhere near Shelvey. He is focussed entirely on the ball. I can understand the Liverpool fans’ frustration because it’s not the prettiest challenge. I would say it is CORRECT not to send him off, though. Shelvey, on the other hand, goes studs in on Evans and his legs actually move away from the ball toward the man. He had to go. CORRECT.

Ant – I saw people saying both players went for the ball but Shelvey is much more aggressive and could have seriously injured Evans.

Simon F – Shelvey red correct, Evans lack of red incorrect. It may be unprecedented (I’m certainly not aware of it happening before) but I believe that both players should have been sent off for this challenge. Both players jump into the tackle, studs up and neither could have had complaints about being shown red cards.

Callum – Both should be sent off. Similar tackles, neither really win the ball.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision x 2

Suarez and Sterling Penalty Shouts

Simon M – I thought the first tackle was excellent, nipping in just in time and the second was very good too. Neither was a penalty.

Mike – Two good tackles. Suarez needs to learn how to go down convincingly or he’ll never win a penalty again, correctly or otherwise. CORRECT in both cases.

Ant – On Sky they highlighted the fact that Evans I think it was made contact with Suarez foot but I don’t think there was enough for a penalty and the way he goes down doesn’t help himself either. Scholes made a good tackle on Sterling and that was less of a penalty than the Suarez one.

Simon F – During the game I was adamant that this should have been a penalty, but watching it back with my objective hat on, Evans wins the ball and Suarez goes over his leg. A case of neither a penalty nor a dive. In the case of Scholes and Sterling, the former cleanly wins the ball and has no case to answer.

Callum – Who said Scholes can’t tackle? Both tackles win the ball in the box, no penalty.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision x 2

Valencia Penalty

Simon M – Another one I’ve thought long and hard about. Johnson obviously doesn’t win the ball, but I do think he makes very, very slight contact with Valencia. Is it enough to disrupt his play, I don’t think so. I think this was soft, I don’t think it was a dive per se, but I don’t think it was a penalty either.

Mike – Valencia maybe goes down easily, but how can anyone say it’s not a penalty? What is Johnson doing? Does he win the ball? Not even close. Does he impede the man? Clearly. It’s a stonewall penalty.

Ant – I’m not sure how much of a dive this was but for me there is no way it was a penalty, the only contact I can see is a slight contact on the back of Valencia but nowhere near enough for a penalty.

Simon F – I honestly don’t see any contact here, and to my mind this is one of the most blatant dives I have seen in a long time. No penalty and a yellow card would have been the correct decision.

Callum – Soft penalty. Don’t think it should have been given, Liverpool are unlucky there.

Overall Verdict – Incorrect Decision

Van Persie Tackle (yellow given)

Simon M – A lot of fuss about nothing. Van Persie is in control throughout and never in danger of causing any damage, unlike Shelvey earlier in the game. Another example of football fans latching on to anything, even the lightest shred of hope, in an attempt to win the after game arguments.

Mike – Another one that many people were unnecessarily irate about. What is wrong with this? Even a yellow is harsh. It’s one-footed and on the ground. Studs maybe show a little bit, but it’s a pretty controlled attempt at a tackle, even if it doesn’t come off.

Ant – I don’t think this is as bad as the Shelvey one and a yellow is enough.

Simon F – Another case of a player jumping into a tackle, and although Van Persie had landed before he made contact with Suso, he was still not in control of the tackle. This wasn’t as bad as either Shelvey’s or Evans’ but is borderline between red and yellow, and given my strictness on these challenges I have to remain consistent and say that Van Persie should have been sent off.

Callum – Won the ball, wouldn’t even give a free-kick. Again, call me old-fashioned or whatever, but I see nothing wrong with it if the ball is won.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

Man City – Arsenal

Aguero Penalty Shout

Simon M – Amazing how little we heard about this call, especially from Arsenal fans who are usually so willing to discuss how awful referees are……Ahem. Anyway, I think that’s as blatant a penalty as we’ve seen all season. Koscielny is nowhere near the ball and clearly takes Aguero out. We’ve discussed how not going down affects decisions before, with calls like this is it any wonder players make sure they hit the deck?

Mike – Koscielny is getting a lot of praise lately. Strange, for such a rubbish defender. He doesn’t get anywhere near the ball. Maybe Aguero should have gone down (though you’d hope he hasn’t been to the Luis Suarez School of Flopping over – part-funded by Ashley Young) but in any case, I think it’s a penalty.

Ant – No penalty for me but is this the perfect example of why players go down easily, I think if Aguero had of gone down I might have agreed if a penalty was awarded.

Simon F – Referee’s seem to think that a player must go down for a penalty to be awarded, but Aguero is clearly impeded despite managing to keep his feet (I thought foreigners didn’t do that) and should have had a penalty.

Callum – Penalty. Koscielny has missed the ball and impeded Aguero. As the commentator says, if he goes down he’ll win the penalty.

Overall Verdict – Incorrect Decision

Spurs – QPR

Sigurdsson Penalty Shout

Simon M – The defender goes right through Sigurdsson to get to the ball. Yeah he wins the ball, but you can’t win the ball in that manner without giving away a penalty. Shocking decision.

Mike – The angles make this one virtually impossible to call. It looks like perhaps the defender gets something on the ball, so I will err on the side of caution and say CORRECT.

Ant – Not the best angle but I think there is enough in this for a penalty. It looks like the defenders makes enough contact to stop Sigurdsson having a clear chance to score.

Simon F – This seems a clear penalty to me, Clint Hill goes through Sigurdsson from the back and prevents him from getting a shot on goal.

Callum – Think the angle from behind shows a touch to the back of Sigurdsson’s foot, and it should have been a penalty.

Overall Verdict – Incorrect Decision

Zamora Goal Possibly Offside

Simon M – He’s onside. I think the offside calls came because Spurs had been caught napping.

Mike – I think he is just onside. But just onside is still onside.

Ant – I like to see the lines for offsides but Zamora looks level to me and times he run perfectly.

Simon F – Another tight one, and one which I think the officials got just right, Zamora is level and the goal was right to stand.

Callum – Onside, the player on the near touchline playing Zamora on. Goal correctly stands.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

Newcastle – Norwich

Williamson Penalty

Simon M – I can’t believe anyone would think this isn’t a penalty! He just pushes Williamson in the back to make sure he doesn’t get the ball!

Mike – The consensus afterwards seemed to be that this one was harsh, but I don’t see what choice the referee has. The Norwich player barely gets off the ground and seems to just barge Williamson in the back. Why would that not be a penalty?

Ant – The commentator says it’s a soft penalty and I agree, I don’t think there is much in this at all.

Callum – Hasn’t tried to win the ball, just tried to get Williamson out of the way, think a penalty is correct. Would have been a foul anywhere else on the pitch.

Overall Verdict – Correct Decision

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You can follow all five judges on Twitter; Simon M – @Deb_Decisions, Callum – @callummaclean91, Ant – @Acidburn81, Mike – @mkobylko and Simon F – @SFurnivall.

Tags: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd, Newcastle, Norwich, QPR, Reading, Southampton, Spurs, Stoke, Swansea, West Brom