Ref Review: FA Cup furore at Millwall; Man Utd man lucky not to see red

Everton TEAMtalk

There was FA Cup controversy at Millwall on Saturday which left Everton furious, while Jesse Lingard could have seen red at The Emirates on Friday night, all in Ref Review.

 

Refereeing decisions are regularly the source of debate among fans, pundits, players and managers so this season TEAMtalk’s ‘Ref Review’ panel will be passing judgement on every red card (or avoidance of one), every penalty  (or avoidance of one) and any other major incident in each Premier League match.

We may be in the day and age of goalline technology, while VAR made its appearance at the World Cup, but football remains littered with controversies.

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.

 

Manchester United first goal v Arsenal

Ruthless stuff from Manchester United who put a wonderful passing move together that was finished off in some style by Alexis Sanchez, who truth be told had endured a shocking opening half hour prior to scoring.

Romelu Lukaku took the ball on the edge of the area, swung to shoot left footed but as four Arsenal men charge him down he played a clever reverse pass into Sanchez’s run. Arsenal’s back line appealed in vain for offside but he was on, just, and the Chilean then danced around Petr Cech before sweeping into the corner from a tight angle.

Verdict: Correct decision

 

Laurent Koscielny injury v Manchester United

Koscielny has been pivotal for the Gunners since coming back from injury but might be out for a while after being accidentally kicked in the head by Romelu Lukaku. We must stress that there could be no fault attached to the Belgian and that he actually flagged it up to the officials instantly. Nevertheless it looked a nasty cut and he could have also suffered some damage to his jaw. The ref was quite correct not to penalise Lukaku though as it was a pure accident.

Verdict: Correct decision

 

Arsenal v Manchester United melee

Jesse Lingard TEAMtalk

Marcus Rashford and Sead Kolasinac put their heads together late on at the Emirates and then for afters everyone steamed in. Loads of pushing and shoving and it seemed Jesse Lingard, who was already on a booking, was among the worst offenders. Kolasinac and Rashford picked up a yellow card apiece but Lingard was very lucky not to be dismissed. He made a bad situation far worse then had something to say to a few fans in the stands. He was far more culpable than Rashford and we are surprised he wasn’t rumbled after a VAR review of the incident.

Verdict: Incorrect decision

Daniel Barlaser red card v Derby County

The boy Barlaser was booked in the first few minutes and received his marching orders for a second yellow after crunching into a late tackle just before the hour mark. No real complaints as the challenge looked quite naughty and the referee seemed to be in a great position to judge. We were quite surprised then when the performance of John Moss was criticised afterwards by Accrington boss John Coleman, who said cryptically: “They’re referees after all. Not footballers.”

Verdict: Correct decision 

 

Jayden Bogle red card v Accrington 

Jayden Bogle Paul Smyth TEAMtalk

Drama right at the death at Accrington too as the hosts broke away from a corner and when Paul Smyth was clean through Jayden Bogle hauled him over. It was the very definition of a ‘professional foul’ and he had to go.

Verdict: Correct decision 

 

Peter Clarke red card v Doncaster Rovers 

Veteran Oldham skipper Peter Clarke enjoyed one of the more eventful days of a long career as he took centre stage against Donny. It all started when he made a goal-line clearance. He followed that up by scoring an own-goal before levelling for the Latics on 84 minutes. However his hero status was only temporary as he conceded a penalty at the death (handball) that was given on the say-so of the referee’s assistant. He was then sent off on 96 minutes after picking up a straight red for violent conduct after clashing with home keeper Marko Marosi.

The win saw Doncaster reach the fifth round for the first time in 63 years and in the end it was Clarke who was mostly responsible for getting them there.

Verdict: Correct decision 

 

Millwall second goal v Everton 

Jake Cooper Millwall TEAMtalk

The Toffeemen twice led at The Den but were left to rue a lack of VAR in south London as as Millwall’s second goal, scored by Jake Cooper, was allowed to stand despite clearly going in off his arm. A raging Marco Silva said afterwards: “If the competition has VAR in some stadiums then it has to have it in all. Because it doesn’t make sense. It was a clear handball. I’m sure handball is not allowed in football.”

To be fair he has a point as it’s difficult to get our head round the thinking in having VAR one night (Arsenal v Manchester United) and not the next. In the same competition.

Verdict: Incorrect decision 

 

Crystal Palace penalty v Tottenham 

Complete madness this from Kyle Walker-Peters, who inexplicably stuck his arm out to control a cross in the area bound for the head of Connor Wickham. It was blatant handball. Stonewall. No debate.

Verdict: Correct decision 

 

Tottenham penalty v Crystal Palace 

Kieran Trippier became the first Spurs player to miss an FA Cup penalty since Tom Huddlestone v Bolton way back in 2010 when he blazed wide with Palace 2-0 up at Selhurst Park. It came about when Juan Foyth tried to turn on the edge of the area and Patrick van Aanholt kicked the back of his leg away. Another absolute stick on.

Verdict: Correct decision 

 

Sheffield Wednesday overturned penalty v Chelsea 

 Andre Marriner Sheff Weds TEAMtalk

Arguably the most contentious moment of the weekend occurred in Sunday’s late game when Andre Marriner awarded Championship side Sheffield Wednesday a penalty when Joey Pelupessy went down in the area after tangling with Ethan Ampadu. The ref immediately blew for a spot-kick but as the Chelsea players piled in to protest he eventually went to VAR, which confirmed that Ampadu actually got a good chunk of the ball and actually had his heels kicked by Pelupessy, who then went sprawling. Ergo, the decision to overturn the original call was a good one.

Ironically though if the game had been at Hillsborough, there would have been no VAR available and the penalty would have been given.

Verdict: Correct decision 

 

Chelsea penalty v Sheffield Wednesday 

Just to rub salt in the wounds Chelsea were awarded a penalty literally minutes after that one given to the Owls was cancelled out. This was far more clear cut to be fair when Sam Hutchinson clumsily hacked down Cesar Azpilicueta in the area. It was a clear foul. Indeed, in the words of Mark Lawrenson, commentating on the Beeb: “You might get two penalties for that. Great positioning by the referee.”

Verdict: Correct decision 

Team most likely to feel brassed off award

Everton TEAMtalk

Everton 

With VAR not in use Michael Oliver has no option but to stand by his original decision of letting Cooper’s goal stand, despite Everton’s furious protests as the clear handball was shown on the big screen. Worse was to follow for the Premier League giants too, who went on to concede a 94th-minute goal to end their FA Cup dreams for another season.

 

Stonewall decision of the week 

Crystal Palace penalty 

It was one hundred per cent, definitely handball, as poor Walker-Peters just seemed to lose the flight of the ball as it was floated into the box and his left hand was way above his head as he wafted the ball away from Connor Wickham’s head with his arm.