Just watching the game on Sky. Must say that the referee has ruined this game.
There are 3 reasons that I don't think Ben Hamer should have been sent off.
1) Where the 'handball occurred'
The ref decided it was outside the area, there was no indication from the assistant to suggest anything untoward (ie. Hamer being out of his area) The referee can't know 100% that Hamer contacts the ball outside the area. As it happens, it is about a foot outside the area, after seeing about the 3rd or 4th replay. Initial contact around the actual line.
2) How deliberate was the offense.
The ref thinks that Hamer is deliberately handling the ball outside the area. His arms are by his sides. Fair enough if he pulls out a sprawling full length dive, but he is just jumping to block with his body.
3) Was the ball going in / Did it stop a goal
No, on both counts. A) Mooney just chips it (going wide, if it had made it to the byline), B) Morro is covering, and Mooney is peeling away to the left.
In conclusion. The handball wasn't deliberate, the referee can't be sure that it was definitely outside the area from his position, and it is not necessarily stopping a goal. I think he's ruined what could have been a good game of football, and could quite easily have given Hamer a yellow card (which he would be guessing at) and carried on.
Sorry to take this from the match thread, but I am absolutely disgusted at a very poor decision which has no doubt cost us a game, and our 7 point lead.
What do you guys think? (Sky have done their usual agreeing with the ref, and thank God Garry Birtles isn't on, else I would have thrown the TV out of the window!)
Yours,
Ben
There are 3 reasons that I don't think Ben Hamer should have been sent off.
1) Where the 'handball occurred'
The ref decided it was outside the area, there was no indication from the assistant to suggest anything untoward (ie. Hamer being out of his area) The referee can't know 100% that Hamer contacts the ball outside the area. As it happens, it is about a foot outside the area, after seeing about the 3rd or 4th replay. Initial contact around the actual line.
2) How deliberate was the offense.
The ref thinks that Hamer is deliberately handling the ball outside the area. His arms are by his sides. Fair enough if he pulls out a sprawling full length dive, but he is just jumping to block with his body.
3) Was the ball going in / Did it stop a goal
No, on both counts. A) Mooney just chips it (going wide, if it had made it to the byline), B) Morro is covering, and Mooney is peeling away to the left.
In conclusion. The handball wasn't deliberate, the referee can't be sure that it was definitely outside the area from his position, and it is not necessarily stopping a goal. I think he's ruined what could have been a good game of football, and could quite easily have given Hamer a yellow card (which he would be guessing at) and carried on.
Sorry to take this from the match thread, but I am absolutely disgusted at a very poor decision which has no doubt cost us a game, and our 7 point lead.
What do you guys think? (Sky have done their usual agreeing with the ref, and thank God Garry Birtles isn't on, else I would have thrown the TV out of the window!)
Yours,
Ben