There was a time when I understood football, having played it, managed in it and later reffed it but I’m really not sure I get much of it anymore.
It has always been my understanding that if a ball hits your hand or any part of your arm whether you are upright or falling then it’s a penalty.
That’s what happened tonight when Thiago, as he was falling. had the ball bounce off his arm not once but twice yet no penalty was given either by the ref or VAR which has been getting as much wrong as it has right this season.
It means that we go to Palace under more pressure than we should have to and that a penalty tonight would p[robably have left us leave us in a much healthier position therefore ahead of the Manchester City and United games.
David Moyes was entirely confused by the decision when discussing the match afterwards and made some very strong and, for my money. accurate points.
He said: ” I think I do know a wee bit about handball and when the player lunges for a tackle, because of that he has to go with him arms out.
I get the bit about trying to break his fall, but this one he’s lunged in the box and I think it’s definitely hit him in the arm. For me, him lunging takes the breaking of the fall out [of the equation].
We had a penalty kick given against us for Arsenal against Micky Antonio here, with his arm being out at the side. Not every handball is going to result in the same decision, but tonight is think an 8/10 penalty and I find it hard that he’s not given it.
The next game [at Crystal Palace] comes around very quickly so we have to try and get the players back.
They put in a great effort tonight and we’re asking so much of the players at the moment. Let’s hope they can do it again at the weekend.
Liverpool played last Saturday and we played Sunday, so even that one day makes a big difference for the players.
We’ve got the same situation now going to Crystal Palace, and we’re at 12.30pm as well. It feels as though we’ve had a run of bad kick-off times and the scheduling has been really difficult.”
By Hughie Southon
It was blatant bias to the big club. That referee was a disgrace, all his body language showed he was not interested in penalising Liverpool not even a booking. His instant turn and run away eas in full evidence. Top level football is looking a joke when penalty, offside and booking decisions vary so much game to game and are applied at the referees discretion. Same for VAR, somebody somewhere decides not just the validity, but whether they will actually review it. Top club bias in full view.
I can recall that several weeks ago Soucek kind of fell and clearly handled the ball in the penalty area. Almost everybody thought it was a penalty, including the West Ham players. Yet it wasn’t given and VAR cleared it. So we got away with one there. Why is there so much discontent when one doesn’t go our way? Perhaps someone has an answer.
He didn’t lunge in as last nmight. He fell. That’s the difference. Had the ball not been handled last night Thiago couldnt have cleared it
It was virtually identical to Antonio penalty awarded for Arsenal recently. Even Klopp stated he could understand Moyes opinion.
The “Big Six” bias in full effect and VAR is an excellent method for unaccountable decisions to be made, not made or explained by someone?
But we know and we can see BIAS. The same with our match scheduling, we’re in Europe representing this country and yet we aren’t deemed as important as other clubs to warrant better game scheduling.
Nobody at this club is laughing about our match scheduling, but I bet the people responsible for the scheduling are laughing. 12.30 kick off on Saturday? It WOULDN’T happen to Any of those so called clubs and this is probably as blatent as it gets and surely cannot be explained.
My love, anticipation, and excitement is waning simply because of the corrupt biased bureaucrats in charge of our game.
I agree It was a nailed on penalty. Arm to ball not the other way round. As Moyes said he lunged at it.