Dean had told his goalkeeper, Paddy Kenny, that he had felt obliged to give the penalty "because the lad was about to head the ball in..." All that needs to be said
The ball was at least 6 feet above his head, there was no chance of him getting it. Id like to see not only one challenge but the officials also allowed to check replays as well for every pen, goal and red card decision. That would all be done easily before play resumed.
That's not too bad an idea..... one challenge would be OK. I also think that a Linesman on either side of the pitch on both halves and a goal-line Ref would help as well.... but who would pay for all of it, is, I guess, the main question???
The problem with this is that there is still far too much grey area in decisions like this. Would Sturridge have reached the ball? Almost certainly not. Did Sturridge make a meal of the challenge? Yes. Did Sturridge attempt to con the referee? Yes. Was there contact by Clint Hill? Yes. Did Clint Hill have forward momentum into Sturridge? Yes. Would video officials have overturned the decision? In my opinion, sadly, no.
Tony Pulis was on SSN the other day suggesting exactly this. All those buffoons at the FA saying it would disrupt the game, just how much more time is wasted arguing about a decision. Bring it on I say, why should football be the only sport without it. There is so much money involved in football nowadays that decisions have to be as correct as possible. It would also ease tension between supporters if we had conclusive evidence to support a decision.
It would have been overturned, the ref said he would have got to the ball and scored. Id also like to see no fouls given for players choosing to go down or turning to appeal to the ref. Basically anyone now thinks its a fouls if a player is touched in any way, its not, its only a foul if a player is impeded.
problem is when do you lodge your challenge, and who does it, the captain or management... Say (for arguments sake) sturrdges penalty was right but NOT given, kenny grabs ball, hits it long and QPR score. If the captain has to lodge the appeal he has to try an grab the ref before QPR score while the ref is running full speed up the pitch and by the time he catches up and can appeal HH has scored and then the goal has to be disallowed and the clock rewinded 30 seconds. If the penalty was NOT given but kenny has sent HH off on one to score uncontested and chelsea appeal from the bench do you let QPR score and then rule it out or prevent a goal scoring opportunity and allow chelseas defence to reorganise after the penalty is turned down...? Video refs are easier in other sports because they naturally stop, cricket is easy becuase each play lasts one ball, but the only enforced stoppages in play for football are half time and full time. (opinion may be slightly skewed by being a ref aswell as QPR fan )
