- The home/away difference: despite media protestations, it is not just Arsenal
- Defeat in the Champions League: not as bad a portent as one might think
By Tony Attwood
This is all rather embarrassing for the media but slowly they are being forced to admit it. There was a time when a mistake was made in a game which changed the result in Arsenal’s favour. Arsenal then offered a replay, and the replay happened. Tottenham have thus far done no such thing.
For Arsenal, it happened in February 1999 in the 5th round FA Cup match between Arsenal and Sheffield United. The score was 1-1 when Kelly of Sheffield kicked the ball out of play so that Morris could have treatment on the pitch.
The normal process at the time, following from such an event was that the opposition would then take the throw but pass the ball back to the side that had kicked the ball out. They would then pause for a moment to ensure both teams were back in position, and then off the match would go. A similar sort of thing happens today sometimes with the dropped ball. Theoretically, both sides could tackle for the ball, but the club that had possession is normally allowed to proceed.
So in Arsenal’s case, back in 1999, Ray Parlour threw the ball back toward the West Brom defence, but Kanu, not long having been in England very long, and not having had the finer points explained to him, thought the ball was for him. He ran on to it, passed it to a bemused looking Overmars who unsure of what to do, kicked the ball into the net.
West Bromwich were then ordered off the pitch by their manager (something which today would probably mean the team would be docked 20 points or whatever crazy idea PGMO can come up with).
Eventually, WBA were persuaded to play on (I know that Arsene Wenger went to speak to his opposite number, and that then, although it has never been confirmed, Arsene Wenger offered a replay if they won the game which they were due to finish off) and so it was. Because Arsenal offered a replay the match and because Arsenal did indeed win the re-started match, it was indeed replayed, and Arsenal duly wonagain, and proceeded onto the next round.
Quite clearly all that Tottenham Hotspur need to do now in the current case is to follow Arsenal’s example from that earlier incident, offer a replay, and then the controversy is over and we can focus on how on earth to get PGMO officials to act in a sane and rational manner (although that is likely to take longer).
So the key question that now arises is that given the precedent, why on earth have Tottenham Hotspur not offered a replay to Liverpool as Arsenal did back in 1999?
Of course, there are many possible reasons that can be given. For example they might have done so but PGMO, fearful of the damage done to refereeing reputations and their own fragile position, might have said “no.”
Of maybe Tottenham, fearful of losing their position in the League through a different result next time might have said “No.” It was after all only the fact that Arsenal offered at once to have a replay that the game could go ahead.
But whatever the outcome, it is interesting to ponder the immediate response of the two clubs. Arsenal offered a replay. Tottenham are (at least at the time of writing) sitting on their hands.
Utter rubbish. Lets replay the Pedro Mendes game then when Roy Carroll scooped the ball out of his net for no goal to be given… or replay the World Cup after Frank’s goal was never given, or ………….. or …………….. or …………… LIverpool are just moaning, whinging short memory clowns 🙂
It was Arsenal that were to blame in your game but in Spurs game they are innocent. It was the official’s who messed up.
Sheffield United or West Brom?
Totally different circumstances.
Arsenal offered a replay because their own unsporting behaviour affected the result.
By contrast, Spurs are guilty of nothing more than benefitting from a VAR/referring error, much like a whole host of teams over the past few seasons.
Errr, two scenarios that are completely different!
Arsenal were in the wrong – albeit Kanu did not realise – but it was Arsenal’s actions that caused the issue.
Spurs have done nothing wrong. They are under no obligation to offer a replay, whereas Arsenal were under a lot of pressure to do so.
Very different, and clearly so!
In fairness the premier league champions offering a cup replay to a bottom half championship team isn’t exactly the same. I don’t see how it would work as Liverpool were down to 10 men legitimately at the time… you can’t play 11v11 from the start. Do you play 11 v 10 from 0-1?
Tottenham would say Man United didn’t offer any replays when they scored that goal from the halfway line in the last minute 15 odd years ago, or following the armpit ball penalty in the Champions League final.
Before championing a replay, is it better for Arsenal for Tottenham or Liverpool to have the points. ……
That’s because an arsenal player made a mistake and it lead to a goal. Please show us how is it Tottenham’s or any of it’s players fault that the goal was given offside. It’s the refereeing body’s mistake why should Tottenham be the one to make it right?
Biased nonsense as per usual re anything to do with Tottenham. So how would the replay work to make to fair to Spurs? Ie Match should start on 33 minutes with Liverpool 1-0 up but down to 10 men, with Jota coming on at half time but leaving the pitch midway through the second half so that Liverpool end the game with 9 men? Yep, utter nonsense isn’t it.
I actually disagree, as much as that may seem strange to some.
The f*ck up was by PGMOL & NOT the fault of Spurs, unlike Kanu/Arsenal’s ‘etiquette’ faux pas, so why should they offer to replay or be penalised by PL?
Yes, they could possibly lose any (highly unlikely) replay but they could also win it, NOBODY can be sure nor know.
& where does any replay start? Whole 90 minutes again or from the point where the error occurred, 34th minute, 1-0 to Liverpool but they are already down to 10 men?
More dodgy dealings from FIFA with the awarding of the 2030 World Cup split between 3 continents (in order to exclude those continents from the bidding for the 2034 World Cup). The 2034 competition is now expected to be awarded to another authoritarian state, and will probably take place in the middle of the European domestic season.
When Arsenal offered a replay it was for the whole game, and that is what happened. I don’t see why Tottenham supporters want to make it so complicated.
Vedant: I guess because it would be the honourable thing to do.
Cannot recall Arsenal calling for a replay of the Brentford match last February after Mason’s shocking error. He was removed from VAR so presumably England will be as the precedent has been set. There obviously needs to be a set procedure of dialogue between referee and VAR but that is too obvious. I was appalled by the utterly unprofessional dialogue I heard from Saturday’s disaster. Liverpool need to reflect on all the favourable decisions they have been given over the years
My take, if a replay is ordered I would have my nose badly out of joint. It would show a unique set of rules for Liverpool. And, it would not guarantee an improvement in process or results from the PGMOL going forward.
Stop trolling. They are 2 completely different circumstances. Do you honestly think that if Arsenal were in Spurs’ position right now they would be offering a replay? Laughable suggestion.