Rival watch

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I don't think it was a penalty at all, but some people are acting like it was the worst decision in the world. Penalties have been given for far less than that this season.
Chambers puts his arm up a bit and moves it towards the ball.
He's got his eyes closed and doesn't mean it, but the ref can't see that.
This is why so many defenders have their hands either tucked against their bodies or even behind their backs now.
Don't give the officials a decision to make.
 
I don't think it was a penalty at all, but some people are acting like it was the worst decision in the world. Penalties have been given for far less than that this season.

Doesn't matter anyway, we were ****e again and didn't deserve to win. Hearing Wenger talk about the referee as the central focus for why we didn't win the game infuriates me to the max. Is he ever going to acknowledge the actual reasons for why we didn't win or is he going to stay in cuckoosville?
I can see why it was given. His hand was raised and deflected the ball.
 
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MR DT ‏@MrDtAFC 11 minutes ago

Mike Dean should never be aloud to referee a game of football ever again, bald ****!!!

< wise words, mate >
 
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A video ref is the only solution. If Mike Dean could ask the question, 'is there any reason I shouldn't give a penalty' the answer would have come back, yes, he handled it but no way it was intentional.
 
Be careful what you wish for lads.
We had VAR introduced to the Australian A League this season and until a about a week ago was a shamble and they had to tweak it so the time taken was reduced.
To take today's penalty farce into context- in one game it took the VAR nearly 5 mins to decide whether to allow a spot kick. In the end the ref had to go to the sideline video screen to verify because the ref upstairs couldn't decide. It also has the authority to turn yellow cards into reds (if the camera sees it that is!)
 
I think I'm the only person on the planet who thinks that was a penalty. The player clearly leads with his arm.
Nope, I am with you on this. If his arm was just in front of his body and got hit by the ball it would have been harsh, from the position of the ref it was obvious he pushed his forearm forward (his arm was moving upwards naturally for balance, the forward push wasn't natural) changing the path of the ball.
If the ball had just hit him it would have dropped a lot closer to both players.
 
I'm becoming convinced that a penalty should only be given for denying a goal scoring opportunity. Whether or not Chambers' offence today warranted a penalty, in practice it would be pretty random if it was given. It's crazy that the destination of points depends on such a lottery.
 
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I don't think it was a penalty at all, but some people are acting like it was the worst decision in the world. Penalties have been given for far less than that this season.

Doesn't matter anyway, we were ****e again and didn't deserve to win. Hearing Wenger talk about the referee as the central focus for why we didn't win the game infuriates me to the max. Is he ever going to acknowledge the actual reasons for why we didn't win or is he going to stay in cuckoosville?

Balanced opinion as usual bg <applause>