Ref Review: The controversial incidents from matchday 36
A look at all the controversial decisions during this weekend’s Premier League games with a number of high-profile incidents up for debate.
Refereeing decisions are regularly the source of debate among fans, pundits, players and managers so this season a five-strong TEAMtalk panel will be passing judgement on every red card (or avoidance of one), every penalty and any other major incident every matchday.
We’ll also decide on a weekly basis which side can consider themselves lucky and which was the easiest decision for a match official to make.
Hugo Lloris tackle on Manuel Lanzini
Anthony Taylor’s decision not to blow for a foul when Hugo Lloris raced out of his area and ultimately wiped out Lanzini at the London Stadium on Friday evening divided opinion.
Some felt it was reckless from the Spurs custodian and that he possibly should have been flagged for a foul and possibly sent off for dangerous play. However the one saving grace was the fact he won the ball. It was definitely crude and clumsy but Lloris touched the ball first before taking out the West Ham player.
Verdict: Correct decision
Harry Arter tackle v Stoke City
It was a decent game with a few goals down on the south coast but the match will probably be remembered for Arter’s outrageous lunge on Allen.
It was aggressive, two-footed and out of control. He did it right in front of referee Paul Tierney too but the whistler only blew for a foul while keeping his cards in his pocket.
Mark Hughes moaned after that Arter “should have gone” and “would have been sent off had he played for Stoke”.
Eddie Howe bizarrely claimed “five years ago that would have been deemed a great tackle.” It definitely wouldn’t Eddie and Arter was extremely fortunate not to be dismissed on reflection.
Verdict: Incorrect decision
Hull City penalty appeal v Sunderland
How big a call will this be at the end of the season? With the score still 0-0 at the KCOM the ball was blasted against John O’Shea’s elbow in the area after an acrobatic effort by Oumar Niasse. O’Shea’s elbow was high and it definitely looked like handball but the referee was having none of it, much to the frustration of Hull’s fans. Massive call from Neil Swarbrick, and he’s almost certainly got it wrong.
Verdict: Incorrect decision
Jermain Defoe goal v Hull City
Seb Larsson whipped in a cross with time running out on Humberside and Defoe did what Defoe does in the area to put the game to bed. However replays suggest the England man was just offside before applying the finishing touch.
Verdict: Incorrect decision
Burnley penalty appeal v West Brom
James Tarkowski drilled a shot goalwards at Turf Moor that may well have hit Marc Wilson’s arm. Burnley’s fans seemed to appeal louder than their players did but Mike Jones was unmoved, probably thinking there was no way Wilson could have reasonably got out of the way of the volley.
Verdict: Correct decision
Liverpool penalty v Southampton
Big Fraser Forster ultimately saved the day with a fantastic stop at Anfield as he denied James Milner from 12 yards, but should the penalty have even been awarded? Jack Stephens was adjudged to have handled a flighted ball into the area from Lucas and it looked a tad harsh at first glance. Ref Bobby Madley had a good look at it and was in no doubt however with replays confirming he probably got the call right.
Verdict: Correct decision
Team most likely to feel brassed off award
Hull City
The football Gods failed to shine on plucky Hull and these are the decisions that make or break seasons. If the penalty shout went their way then there’s a good chance they might have won that game and been out of the bottom three with two games to go.
Stonewall decision of the week
Liverpool penalty v Southampton
To be fair it didn’t look an obvious penalty in real time but replays showed Stephens clearly handled in the area in what Sky pundit Jamie Carragher called “a moment of madness”. The referee was well placed and having seen it was always going to give it.