None of them were pens..On the Je Sus one, the ball was travelling too fast for him to get it. Then he fell over Kompany's legs. Good reffing. Best ref at WC by a long way.
The question the ref and the VAR team should be asking in the Jesus situation should be: "Was Kompany's intention to go for the ball or go for the man ?". In the first snapshot, to me it looks like Kompany's eyes were completely focused on following the ball in an attempt to touch the ball. Jesus is already in the air and heading at pace towards Kompany's airborne body. The second snapshot clearly indicates that the ball's direction and pace indicates Jesus would never have caught it. Both players were entitled to attempt to get the ball. Their bodies came together before either player could reach the ball. I do not see a foul either way. Neither did the ref or the VAR team apparently. Where was the Azerbaijani linesman when he was needed ? ...
Intending to play the ball and failing doesn’t get you off a penalty, it’s how almost all penalties are conceded.
Did Kompany intend to bring the man down to prevent him from reaching the ball then ? That is the pertinent question, to which the ref and at least one other official answered in the negative. No foul, no penalty.
If you miss the ball and take out the player instead, it’s a foul, it makes **** all difference if it was mistymed rather than intentional. Presumably, you think Panama wrestling Kane to the ground was okay as well, as that wasn’t given either?
Not at all. The Panamanian intentionally impeded Kane's movement - a foul. Not given (can't remember if VAR was used in that incident). The ref either missed it or decided it didn't effect any outcome. An error. Kompany, obviously in my view, collided with Jesus & did not commit a foul - the ball had been played through his teammate's legs, was free to go for and Jesus was free to go for it. They collided as Kompany went to ground & Jesus was attempting to jump/dive over him. Very fine lines. The officials made a call I believe was correct, that Kompany didn't take the man out.
