just listening to the debate saying that the ref was wrong. While I can see that there was "contact" you could clearly see Willian already on the way down and deliberately dragging his feet to get "contact" so I think the ref was right, it was a dive and cheating. Not often you see a ref strong enough to turn down 2 penalties and book 2 players for diving against one of the "big" clubs like Chelsea. I like him, could have done with him at Old Trafford in the Cup in 1998.
Agreed he dove and just happened to be touched mid dive. The pathetic attitude of the BBC commentator was clear from his 'he might have gone down easy but he did well to draw the foul' comment. You don't draw a foul. You don't win a foul.
I thought Willian's was a clear penner. The ref was probably swayed after Pedro's comedy attempt earlier - deserved an Equity card, no matter a yellow...
Agreed, although the players would argue that the refs don't help matters by not giving penners for clear fouls in the box unless players do go to ground...
Clear penalty. The defender has made an attempt at a tackle and missed the ball and caught the attacking player . It's a mistimed tackle and therefore a foul .
I wish all you armchair experts could have a go at refereeing...sure you'd get every decision right...!
I love all the indignation from professional divers like Lineker and Shearer. Willian saw the outstretched leg and despite his best efforts, only just made slight contact with it.
I’m certainly not having a go at the ref, we can’t even agree on here so it shows what a thankless task they’ve got
Not a penalty for me. He wasn't brought down, he was going down before the contact with the leg. Just goes to show what strikers think the rules are if they all think it was a penalty.