Quote Originally Posted by Monty92 View Post
Sure - I'm just explaining the ref's decision. And I think their bosses would frown upon it if they started unilaterally giving pelanties for every hand on a shoulder, so I'm not inclined to be too harsh on them.
The whole problem is that referees have always interpreted the laws of the game rather than enforced them. The fact is that the law is very clear and that there is no justification for one player to put his hands on another player at any time and that doing so should always be a foul. Only by introducing these grey areas have referees given themselves a problem.

It's a unique thing about football, actually, that habitual tolerance of illegality. It makes things flow and increases the rough and tumble, but it also makes the idea of consistent refereeing a virtual impossibility.