SPL Debatable Decisions – Week 3
Week Three of SPL Debatable Decisions and yet more dodgy refereeing for the team to cast their eye over and for the foreseeable future they’re one man down. Whether or not the referees of the SPL were to blame for Simon Furnivall’s fractured arm we’ll never know, he’s keeping quiet for fear of further damage, but that doesn’t stop the other judges putting their limbs on the line when it comes to calling decisions wrong. Enjoy.
PS – For future reference, as we only have four judges for the time being, if the verdict is split then the benefit of the doubt will be given to the officials and the decision marked as correct.
Ross County – Celtic
Free Kick For Ross County Goal
Gary – Yeah it’s a free-kick, Mulgrew just catches him and the player goes over. Mulgrew doesn’t even protest just walks back to help form a wall.
Paul – 100% Free Kick this, Lustig lunged in and took the legs away from Cochrane and Brittain duly dispatched.
Robert – A poor challenge by a defender who had been beaten. Correct call.
Mike – Terrible challenge by Lustig. A freekick all day long.
Overall Verdict: Correct Decision
Samaras Penalty Shout
Gary – Oh, that’s a penalty, he catches Samaras on the top of the boot and that then makes him go over. So yeah contact in the box – penalty.
Paul – Minimal contact on Samaras but there is contact, the referee is placed to see it and should have pointed to the spot. Wrong Decision
Robert – It looks as though the Greek was a bit dramatic with his fall. Even so, it looks like there was contact. I think it should have been a penalty although I see how the referee got it wrong.
Mike – Brittain puts his foot in late and takes Sammy out. Definite penalty.
Overall Verdict: Incorrect Decision
Quinn Tackle Possible Red
Gary – It’s late, reckless, high foot and studs showing I’d have to go with a red card should have been showing.
Paul – Again I think the referee has got this wrong, Quinn has jumped in with studs showing and connected with Ledley’s ankle, a dangerous tackle that should have resulted in a red card.
Robert – Quinn lucky to escape without punishment. Studs were showing and they were high enough to be dangerous. Incorrect decision from the ref not to punish him.
Mike – Quinn goes in late, from behind with his studs up and catches ledley on the back of the leg. Was very cynical, should have been off.
Overall Verdict: Incorrect Decision
St Johnstone – Aberdeen
Vernon Goal Disallowed For Offside #1
Gary – Sorry, tried to get 1 or 2 clips for it. Just far too hard to see. So can’t call it.
Paul – Very hard to call given the quality of the highlights, benefit of the doubt given to the linesman and a correct decision.
Robert – Very difficult to say, so I’ll give the referee and his assistants the benefit of the doubt. Correct.
Mike – Impossible to say for sure so I’m going to give it to the official. Correct decision.
Overall Verdict: Correct Decision
Aberdeen Penalty Shout
Gary – Nope not for me, the player has lobbed it over the keeper and then feel down, no bad tackle from behind or the keeper. Also just in case talking about the possible handball when the follow up shot comes in, nope not for me either.
Paul – That’s a penalty, McKay with his hand out and tries to move it out at the last second but it still strikes it a denies Aberdeen a goal.
Robert – Difficult to see but the ball seems to have changed direction after passing Mackay, so judging by the height I reckon it struck his arm and should have been a penalty. Wrong call.
Mike – No penalty – Defender had his arms down and the ball struck him
Overall Verdict: Correct Decision
Vernon Goal Disallowed For Offside #2
Gary – I’d say from the angle, he’s just leaning offside and it’s the right decision from the lines man so correct decision.
Paul – Looks to me that Vernon is onside this time, incorrect decision.
Robert – This one was harsh, it looks like Vernon timed his run superbly. Think the ref got this wrong.
Mike – Vernon is ahead of the last defender when the ball reaches him but not when it is played. Poor Decision.
Overall Verdict: Incorrect Decision
St Mirren – Hibernian
Hanlon Possible Handball In Area
Gary – Nope not a handball for me, it’s hit his knee and then bounced up and away. Good call from the ref.
Paul – Looks quite clearly to hit the mid section of Hanlon. Great Decision by the referee.
Robert – Didn’t look like it stuck his hand. Right decision by the ref.
Mike – I’m certain that the ball hit Hanlon in the chest.
Overall Verdict: Correct Decision
McPake Penalty Awarded
Gary – Oh that’s a howler, he’s just misjudged the flight of the ball and almost just punched it away.
Paul – A strange decision, looks to me to be a fair 50/50 ball and an incorrect decision from the referee.
Robert – Absolutely no doubt that the referee got this one correct.
Mike – McPake leaps to head it. It looks like he’s realised he’s missed and moves his arm into it to clear.
Overall Verdict: Incorrect Decision
Hearts – ICT
Hearts Penalty Awarded
Gary – If it’s for the shirt pulling then I’d have to say it was the correct decision.
Paul – If anyone can shed light on why this penalty was given, then please let me know. Terrible decision.
Robert – No idea why this was given, which makes it hard to decide if it was correct. If the ref has judged the ‘keeper to have fouled the Inverness player, then this was an incorrect decision.
Mike – Wrong wrong wrong. What exactly was the penalty given for?
Overall Verdict: Incorrect Decision
Folan Red Card
Gary – Yeah, it’s a red card. Malicious challenge and deserved to be given his marching orders, poor challenge from Folan.
Paul – Correct decision.
Robert – A rash challenge, which could have been dangerous. Correct.
Mike – Vicious kick out from Foran.
Overall Verdict: Correct Decision
ICT Penalty Awarded
Gary – Nope, Patterson didn’t even raise his hands. Poor call from the ref, think he was trying to ‘balance’ things up.
Paul – Again, another crazy decision from Madden, he’s basically tripped over his own feet.
Robert – I can’t see the contact. If there was any. Incorrect decision by the ref.
Mike – Difficult to tell but I’d say no penalty. Not convinced the defender touched him. Incorrect.
Overall Verdict: Incorrect Decision
Dundee United – Dundee
Free Kick For United Opener
Gary – Nope it’s not a free-kick for me. He’s just jumped out of the way to him and to the floor. He could have got around him.
Paul – This is a free-kick but only just have seen them given and not but there is just enough contact to warrant this one.
Robert – 10/10 for the frog-splash from Johnny Russell. Not a foul for me, ref was duped into making an incorrect decision.
Mike – Correct. Russell taken out by the defenders trailing leg.
Overall Verdict: Correct Decision
O’Donnell and Russel Red Card
Gary – Yeah both hit out at each other, should raise your hands or ‘feet’ to an opponent so a red card each was the correct decision.
Paul – Both justified in my opinion, the original tackle warranted a yellow card but the lashing out from both players saw them dismissed and rightly so.
Robert – Was basically handbags, but there was definite intent from both players, so it cannot be ignored. Silly actions punished with the correct decision.
Mike – Regardless of who is at fault for the initial foul they both have to go. You can’t lash out like that and expect to stay on the pitch.
Overall Verdict: Correct Decision
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You can follow our five judges on Twitter. Mike – @19Mikey67, Robert – @RMcCracken91, Gary – @Linton1388, Paul – @Steakheed, Simon – @SFurnivall.
Tags: Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee, Dundee United, Hearts, Hibs, ICT, Ross County, St Johnstone, St Mirren
