Ref Review: Arsenal – Southampton; a perfect example of how the new instructions to refs affects the flow of the game.

22 Replies to “Ref Review: Arsenal – Southampton; a perfect example of how the new instructions to refs affects the flow of the game.”

1. Thank you Usama and Walter, great work, much appreciated.

2. Thanks for this review which has clear reasoning behind the decisions where, for the most part, the referee showed good judgement. I only wish there was someone employed within the mainstream media who was as good.

3. Yes, this is an excellent report.
   I thought the kick to Kos’s head was quite deliberate. The defender aimed at Kos with his left foot stretched. The ball hit the defender on the right side of his chest, near the armpit.

   The dissent shown by Soton players on many occasions was outrageous, but following Soton’s “play” during both matches last season, they obviously felt entitled to carry on kicking Arsenal’s players – without punishment.

4. Rantetta, I think Did-Utd played the early game that week, so the Sotton players would have watched Rooney spending 90 minutes mouthing off at the ref and would have decided to follow suit… I think 😀

5. should be Dis-Utd, of course…

6. i’m curious how could fonte kicked kos in the face if kos was aiming for the ball, but the ball was nowhere near fonte foot
   does anyone have a video?

7. OlegYch,

   http://gfycat.com/HilariousSparseAdamsstaghornedbeetle

   The ball was coming down and Koscienly anticipated a low header on the stretch but Iwobi made contact with the ball on the way through which made the ball rise up slightly.

8. thanks Usama
   i’d guess Fonte was as confused as Kos and did intend to kick the ball, so no pen for me, as long as Kos had no chance of getting the ball
   whether it was a dangerous play from Fonte or Kos is rather speculative

9. Usama Zaka:

   Are you sure?
   I’ve watched this a few times.
   Ball comes across low, Kos tries to head it and at the same time a defender kicks at it and hits Kos head.
   Ball hits defender in chest rebounds and another defender kicks it away while again Kos tries to get the ball and also Iwobi tries to get the ball.
   I can see no contact from Iwobi on the ball at all.

   Maybe you have other views but this is what i see.

10. Usama Zaka:
    OK after the 11th time i see it. I see the change of direction of the ball.

    With all the technology today you would think mistakes in the game rules would be almost null.

    In with the video technology.

11. para, Iwobi certainly makes a contact here http://prntscr.com/ck9mw4
    just before the ball flies over Kos head

12. Para,

    This is the only view available, my personal thought is that its not a penalty. But Walter is the man with professional experience in this field, and he has explained it above. He can reply in the comments also, if he his available.

    P.S in the link above, there is a “Minus” “Plus” option to slow the clip down once or twice.

13. OT: Corruption News

    It seems that even being banned from football does not influence money. Platini was banned for many years, reduced on appeal to 4 years I gather. Apparently UEFA can still give him money.

    PGMO money? To keep his mouth shut?

    —

    The big USA case. Eight defendants are set to change their pleas to guilty, in plea bargaining negotiations. Hopefully this results in more evidence heading back to prosecutors.

    http://www.worldsoccer.com/news/fifa-corruption-defendants-plea-bargain-bid-avoid-jail-time-387866

    Trial dates of Nov 2017 have apparently been set. Some other defendants are apparently suing (or preparing to sue) to get their case moved up, and/or spun off the this bulk Nov 2017 case.

14. Walter and Usama

    Can I ask you a couple of questions regarding 2 incidents Koscielnys recently been involved in.

    Firstly regarding the kick he took in the head.

    Rather than a foul on Kos, is it not possible that he committed the first foul under the laws of the Game relating to dangerous play, as described in the section;

    Dangerous Play: Recognition and Application of the Rule.

    The relevant law being.

    1 – The opposite of a high kick is the low header. This is the situation when a defender dives with his/her head in a low position to contact the ball but is close to an opponent who may be trying to kick the ball. This is clearly dangerous play, but the Referee should always allow an exception for the goalkeeper who is attempting to dive on the ball.

    Did Koscielny not put his head ‘In a low position to contact the ball……..close to an opponent who may be trying to kick the ball’.

    Is that not a possible interpretation of events.

    Also, taking a literal interpretation of the Laws of the Game, could his ‘overhead kick’ goal against Southampton not of been chalked off for falling foul of the following Law.

    2- Scissors or bicycle kicks are permitted in the game unless an opponent is within playing distance and the kicker’s foot is, in the opinion of the Referee, dangerously high so as to endanger the opponent. If no one is within playing distance, there can be no offense.

    To be fair this could apply to almost every goal of that type to be honest.

    I’m asking because if, for example, we are going to question whether it could of been a penalty for Kos’s kick in the head, we must first make sure we are applying ALL the rules, all the time, and not just selecting ones that suit us.

    I just think this sort of thing is very important, because if we want to maintain the credibility of these wonderful revues we must be unwavering in our efforts to make sure every rule is considered and appropriately applied, every time.

    By the way, I appreciate I may be completely wrong in my interpretation and application of the 2 ‘Rules’ I have cited and I’m sure if I am I will be corrected.

15. OlegYch

    …..whether it was a dangerous play from Fonte or Kos is rather speculative.

    I see from what you posted whilst I was typing you too see the possibility of dangerous play by Kos.

    It’s an interesting one and It’ll be fascinating to hear the guys interpretation of that particular law.

16. Jamburg,

    1. Yes Koscienly made a low header, but if you look at the clip he was already made himself low before anyone had stretched their foot or legs around him (Except for Iwobi). So I don’t think that counts for dangerous from Koscienly’s perspective. That’s my thought.

    2. I knew this question would rise up 🙂 Again same thing for me applies here, Koscienly was in an empty area of space 2 yard radius perhaps and decided to execute a bicycle kick (No was around him at that point) So that’s not dangerous for me. http://prnt.sc/ckaffc

    Walter can explain better I believe.

17. Usama Zaka

    Thanks for reply.

    Personally I think they are both very difficult rules to interpret and as a result very difficult to apply, but as long as the revues address them and explain there conclusion that’s all can be asked.

    Regarding the Referees, I just think they pretty much ignore both of them.

    I’ve NEVER seen a free kick given for ‘dangerous heading’ and very rarely is a bicycle kick goal chalked off, although I have seen it.

18. Jamburg,

    I agree. There are still many rules in the game that not explained in detail/properly/without examples, and also rules that are written vaguely (one may interpret different meanings from it) But IFAB made little progress this year to make changes and explain them. But given the lack of transparency in the world of refereeing and football governing bodies…there is little hope.

19. since we’re talking about overhead kicks, i thought some of them from Ibrahimovic recently were very dangerous, and yet not once was the play interrupted

20. Regarding goals from overhead kicks I notice that as far as the British media are concerned their best of all time is still the Rooney winner against Man City, even though he fluked it off his shin.

21. Did someone at the pgMOB look at the pelanty stats for first and second in the league in the league last season and raised their hand to say the following:

    “Er, boss, we might have a slight credibility problem here. These numbers look even more odd then Rooney’s hair transplant.”

    What do we all think? What are the odds?

22. We have Michael Oliver for the Chelsea game.

    Presumably, we couldn’t have Atkinson cos he reffed them last weekend, and “The Moaning One” has had to call in Mike Dean to get his mob of misfits out of the hole they are in.