Chapter 28 – I’m back!

I must apologise for my lack of blogs recently. I’ve not had the time to sit down and write anything although when watching the highlights I’ve had ideas but not the time to get anything written!

As always there was plenty of controversy about but I will focus on 2 incidents that occurred over the last seven days, one from the Premier League and one from the Champions League.

First at Upton Park on Sunday, high flying West Ham met in form Swansea, where the visitors were reduced to 10 men after keeper Fabianski was dismissed after charging out of his area in an attempt to beat hammers forward Sakho to the ball.

The Senegalese striker seemed to knock the ball past Fabianski with his hand as the Polish stopper attempted to impede Sakho. Sakho stayed on his feet, a rare thing in the modern game, carried on to have an attempt at goal which hit the post.

Swans manager Gary Monk said that it wasn’t a read card as it wasn’t a clear goal scoring opportunity as the effort didn’t go in plus there was a handball before the foul. All good points but let me break it down and I’ll explain why the appeal was unsuccessful.

Referee Chris Foy blew his whistle at the point of contact between Fabianski and Sakho so he couldn’t of known that Sakho would miss. I think that with no keeper in the goal everyone expected a goal.

The decision by Mr Foy not give the handball was a great call. As Sakho was sprinting his arm was in a natural position when his hand made contact with the ball so couldn’t have been deliberate. But as a football fan I can understand why Swansea would feel hard done by. If it happened to my team I would be annoyed in the heat of the moment!

The other incident this week happened between Liverpool and Basel. As Lazar Markovic was being closed down he stuck out an arm and it looked like a finger caught the eye of Behrang Safari.

The pundits after the game said that it was a harsh sending off but not really when you look at it properly. The reaction of the player despite looking a little over the top I don’t feel it was that. If you get flicked in the eye it can be quite painful.

The Markovic looked to see where his opponent was before sticking out his arm and had they been closer it could’ve been an elbow that caught the Safari.

Striking an opponent or attempting to strike an opponent is a sending off offence. I believe, as did the referee that this was the case!

Take time to think about what you say about referees decisions as they don’t have all the replays that us viewers have! Put yourself in the referees boots and remember the refs view!