“Other clubs never came into my thoughts once I knew Arsenal wanted to sign me.”
“Other clubs never came into my thoughts once I knew Arsenal wanted to sign me.”
Right, but referees consider force when looking at danger and/or consequence. Which is why it was fine for that prick Bruno at Newcastle to whack Jorginho on the back of the head as long as he only used his forearm, and not his elbow.
The key for me is that he doesn't attack the ball and the player at the same time. He attacks the ball, and the opponent arrives and collides with him. Doku is stationary, and turning his body away from the swing of the foot. I think he has done enough to minimise the danger and is entitled to attempt to clear the ball. A big swing of the foot and/ or a follow through and yes, I would agree.
At the very least.... it is not a clear and obvious error. When I saw it live, and the pundits were oohing and aaaahing about how he was in so much trouble, my first instinct was that I would be stunned if VAR gave that.
The only downside is that if Liverpool lose the league by a point or two, we will still be hearing about it for the rest of our lives.
As usual, I agree with Peter
Never a pen, ask yourself what MacAllister was doing there. He didn't try to head the ball, control the ball or position himself to get control of the ball. He ran towards Duko while Duko was trying to clear the ball and stood there, directly in front of him. Then when the follow through brushed him he flung himself to the ground screaming.
Yellow for diving
But more importantly, since when did it become acceptable for defenders to grab anyone in the box when a cross is played in and drag them to the ground?! Brentford did it all game long, at one point someone dragged White into the goal as the cross came in!
It's currently a free for all on set pieces. Defenders seem to be able to do anything and get away with it.
I just hope we're doing it as well.
You are allowed to kick the ball at chest height. If you watch it slowly, he does win the ball, and the Liverpool runs on to the foot as much as anything. His foot trails back on contact, showing there was no follow through or force behind it.
It definitely does not qualify as clear and obvious. And I think the ref doesn't give it because it just looks weird. It doesn't look like a normal penalty incident.
Ref might also have been swayed by the fact that Salah had flung himself to the ground 30 seconds earlier. Haven't seen many calls for a yellow card
Last edited by Peter; 03-11-2024 at 10:36 AM.