Ref Review: The controversial decisions from matchday 17
Our panel debates some highly-contentious decisions in the Premier League this weekend, with Ross Barkley’s conduct and Jamie Vardy’s red card under the microscope.
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 most fortunate and which was the easiest decision for a match official to make.
Ross Barkley tackle v Liverpool
The England man clattered into his Three Lions team-mate Jordan Henderson with some ferocity at Goodison last night. It was the type of late, studs-up tackles that can do plenty of harm, thankfully for all concerned Henderson picked himself up.
Mike Dean warranted the lunge as a yellow card and in his defence, at normal speed, the tackle did not appear to be malicious, but after seein the replays there’s no doubt Barkley should have walked. He apologised afterwards and that says it all. To his credit Henderson defended Barkley.
Verdict – Incorrect decision
Barkley again for kicking the ball away v Liverpool
To say Barkley was a lucky boy was an understatement. Already on a yellow card the midfielder kicked the ball away at a Liverpool free-kick to stop the visitors making a quick break.
Dean turned a blind eye and Barkley stayed on the pitch; he should have walked for two yellows on 84 minutes. That would have been a fitting ending to his wretched evening.
Verdict – Incorrect decision
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s first goal v West Brom
The sensational Swede grabbed the headlines at the Hawthorns when he made it 152 goals in his last 170 league games. But should his fifth minute opener have stood? He subtly but clearly pulls back Gareth McAuley outside the area before motoring into the box to nod home Jesse Lingard’s cross. It was the most flimsy of impediments but it was an impediment nonetheless. Happily for United fans it was missed by Anthony Taylor.
Verdict – Incorrect decision
Ibrahimovic red card escape v West Brom
Twitter went into meltdown when Zlatan jumped into Craig Dawson but was only given a yellow card by ref Taylor. It was certainly reckless as Dawson came crashing down to earth with a bump but replays confirm he didn’t lead with his elbow and it was more a case of an over zealous shoulder charge from Ibra, who was celebrating his 500th career league game.
Verdict – Correct decision
Salomon Rondon red card escape v Manchester United
Rondon and Rojo had been enjoying a real physical battle with each other all through the game but after clashing near the corner flag in the second half things got out of hand. Rojo had words following a tussle and as the players came together Rondon gave Rojo a crafty slap on the cheek. It was not the most concussive of shots but was certainly out of order and had the referee seen it the yellow he eventually gave Rondon would surely have been a red.
Verdict – Incorrect decision
Diego Costa yellow card v Crystal Palace
Costa’s booking against Palace means Chelsea’s fiery striker – the Premier League’s top scorer with 13 – will have his feet up on Boxing Day as the Blues face Bournemouth. But was his booking warranted? Boss Antonio Conte moaned afterwards “He doesn’t deserve this yellow card in my opinion.”
Conte of course is not the most neutral of observers and the truth is Costa’s lunge on Joe Ledley was late and it was reckless. He can have few complaints.
Verdict – Correct decision
Jamie Vardy red card v Stoke City
This dismissal had as much to do with Marcos Rojo as it did Vardy, who was given his marching orders for a two-footed challenge on Mame Biram Diouf. Less than 72 hours previously referee Craig Pawson failed to send off Manchester United’s Rojo for a brainless and rather wild two-footed lunge on Wilfried Zaha.
The whistler came in for some merciless criticism for being too lenient on the Argentine on that occasion so when Vardy was knocked off balance by Glen Johnson and then hurled himself at the ball here with both feet in the air, Pawson did what he should have done at Selhurst Park on Wednesday. The normally chilled Claudio Ranieri hit the roof when Vardy was sent off, confronting the man in the middle at half-time.
But the bottom line is if you dive in with both feet off the ground and are out of control you are simply asking for trouble. Mr Rojo take note.
Verdict – Correct decision
Stoke City penalty v Leicester City
Danny Simpson was raging at ref Pawson after he pointed to the spot with the score still 0-0. Bojan’s cross hit Simpson’s trailing, tattooed arm in the area and the referee blew for a spot kick, and then booked Simpson for his troubles. Replays suggest that while the sliding Simpson was a tad unfortunate the penalty call was right on the money.
Verdict – Correct decision
West Ham penalty v Hull City
Big, big call this at the London Stadium, where Hull had been well on top and had rattled the woodwork on several occasions. With 15 minutes left Michail Antonio tried to steady himself in the box. Tom Huddlestone was right near him as Antonio hit the deck and if there was any contact at all it was certainly the lightest of touches.
Referee Lee Mason didn’t hesitate but in hindsight the call looked pretty dubious
Tough on Hull, who played well but ominously now find themselves bottom of the pile for Christmas.
Verdict – Incorrect decision
Leroy Sane goal v Arsenal
The Etihad erupted as Leroy Sane coolly slotted home to bring Manchester City level against Arsenal in what was his first ever goal for the club.
But was it offside? David Silva’s threaded through ball was inch perfect and Sane was onto it quick as a flash but replays suggest he may have been marginally offside. It was virtually impossible to see in real time and we are talking centimetres but the freeze frames suggest he was off. Just.
Verdict – Incorrect decision
Raheem Sterling goal v Arsenal
Sterling cuts inside in the area and fizzes a cracking low shot past Petr Cech down by his near post to put Man City 2-1 up before racing away and blowing kisses to the crowd. However Arsenal fans were adamant David Silva, who tries in vain to flick a leg at the ball on its way to goal, was in an offside position and interfering with play.
Afterwards Cech said he “didn’t see the ball because there was someone in front” but it would have been a hugely controversial call to chalk off Sterling’s winner as Silva clearly didn’t disturb Cech from the position he was in.
Verdict – Correct decision
Team most likely to feel brassed off award
Hull
When your luck is out, your luck is out. Having hit the post three times and then seeing another effort cleared off the line, the last thing Hull deserved was a controversial spot-kick going against them.
Yet that’s what happened and instead of spending the week level on points with 17th-placed Crystal Palace, Hull are instead propping up the table and left with that sinking stat that is pointed at all teams who are bottom of the table at Christmas.
Stonewall decision of the week
Jamie Vardy’s red card
It may have divided opinion, but when you apply the letter of the law, Pawson had absolutely no option to send off the England striker.
The incident was perhaps highlighted more by the same ref’s failure to send off Rojo earlier in the week for a similar incident. But it’s good to see the official learned from his mistake and took decisive action this time for what is deemed dangerous play.