The player would only be offside if the ball went forward, no mention of blood in the report. If it was for the Saints I would give a goal, if it was Fulham I would disallow it because I am biased.
It was at the "toss-up" by the ref (their coach and a right pompus git). He tossed the coin in the air and asked me to call. I trapped the coin on my thigh and said "heads"; it was heads. He was having none of that and said to re-toss the coin. He threw it in the air again and I called "heads". The ref (their coach) claimed I called too late and said we'd have to toss it again. This time as he threw the coin in the air, I called out "heads, heads, heads, heads, heads, heads" as the coin fell to the floor; it was "tails" and I said that I expect that was good enough for him as I was wrong. He booked me. This may sound daft, but it was true. He was a pillock and I think he didn't like our Sports Head and would do anything to get one over on us.
The only thing he did right was to caution you! But to be fair, it should never have got to that stage. Why he decided to do the coin toss 3 times is beyond me. Was he biased against your team when refereeing the match?
To be honest Tom I was a bit of a tosser when playing college football; thought I was a bit special as I was county captain and england schoolboy. There was probably no need for me to control the coin on my thigh, however the ref was equally arrogant and I was as sarcastic and cocky as anything towards him. He could have sent me off during the game too, as I left a couple of naughty tackles in there. I think he felt he couldn't after the coin toss incident. i know, some would say I haven't changed!
Regardless of the circumstances that led up to it, saying I expect that was good enough for him as I was wrong was tantamount to calling the ref a cheat, which is a straight Red!
True, I sent off someone recently who mumbled under his breath after I gave a decision against his team: "You may as well be playing for them, as you're obviously biased towards them." Unfortunately for him, I was only 2 yards away and heard it clearly. He thought he was going to be booked for dissent as I didn't get the card out straightaway. I took his name and number, said to him "You're going in the book" as though I was going to caution him and then went to my back pocket (at this point he was thinking "oh ****" judging by his face) and produced a red card. The look on his face was a picture!
I would book both and if ball hadn't run behind goal have a drop ball. Defender made a rash challenge but didn't foul striker for my reasoning.
Was the guy offside who was due to receive it? (two defenders or behind the ball etc) Otherwise I agree with others.......interestingly even if the guy was offside, the defender can still be sent off for dangerous play even though technically it was the second offence maybe. Gee wiz I didn't know how far behind the posting I was.......time for another bloody brandy I think.........
Surely any offence (including diving) in the penalty area is just that, an offence and the ref is entitled to stop the game and award a free kick.....however if there is an advantage he can keep the game flowing and book the diver later!
