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Ref Watch: No Southampton penalty for handball against Leicester

Danny Simpson Leicester
Image: Should Danny Simpson have been penalised for handball?

Should Southampton have had a penalty? Should Cheikhou Kouyate have been sent off? Should Norwich have had their winner disallowed? Should Gareth Bale's El Clasico goal have stood?

In his weekly Ref Watch feature, former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher appeared on Sky Sports Now to analyse the weekend's big decisions.

Was your team affected by a contentious decision? Read on to find out...

MATCH: Leicester v Southampton, Sunday

INCIDENT: Sadio Mane was clean through on goal, ran around goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel but had a goalbound shot blocked by Leicester's Danny Simpson. Was it a handball?

GALLAGHER'S VERDICT: No penalty

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Graeme Souness and Peter Schmeichel analyse Danny Simpson blocking Sadio Mane's goal-bound shot with his arm.

GALLAGHER'S VIEW: It has to be intentional, and not be committed. It would've hit his chest. But I think the rule has got to be more prescriptive, it has got to be, 'This is handball or, 'This isn't handball'.

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MATCH: Leicester v Southampton, Sunday

INCIDENT: Southampton's Charlie Austin played a low cross in the area which appeared to strike Robert Huth on the arm, but the referee gave Southampton a corner rather than a spot kick.

GALLAGHER'S VERDICT: No penalty

The ball played by Charlie Austin hits Robert Huth's hand
Image: The ball played by Charlie Austin hit Robert Huth's hand

GALLAGHER'S VIEW: The law says it has to be intentional and we have these guidelines. Has the ball come from a short distance? Well it has come from a short distance.

It has come at speed, there's no doubt about that. Can he get his hand out the way? I'm not convinced he can.

MATCH: Leicester v Southampton, Sunday

INCIDENT: Wes Morgan rose above Jordy Clasie to head in Christian Fuchs' cross to score, but the Leicester captain appeared to put his arm across the Dutchman whilst contending for the ball.

GALLAGHER'S VERDICT: No foul

Wes Morgan's goal correctly stood, says Gallagher
Image: Wes Morgan's goal correctly stood, says Gallagher

GALLAGHER'S VIEW: Michael Oliver has a great view of it, he can see what force he puts into it. I don't think it's a foul.

MATCH: Leicester v Southampton, Sunday

INCIDENT: Very early on in the second half, Victor Wanyama miscontrolled the ball, Jamie Vardy pounced on it and was dragged back with what appeared to be an arm across the face.  A yellow card was given, but should it have been a red?

GALLAGHER'S VERDICT: No red card

Victor Wanyama appears to pull back Jamie Vardy
Image: Victor Wanyama appeared to pull back Jamie Vardy

GALLAGHER'S VIEW: He's on his shoulder to start with, I think it's a pull-back and Michael has got that right. He's very clever to realise the first touch is to take the ball away and not panicking to give a red card.

MATCH: Norwich v Newcastle, Saturday

INCIDENT: In the 86th minute, Gary O'Neil handled in the box and referee Mike Dean pointed to the spot for a penalty which Aleksandar Mitrovic converted.

GALLAGHER'S VERDICT: Penalty

Gary O'Neil handles the ball in the penalty box
Image: Gary O'Neil handled the ball in the penalty box

GALLAGHER'S VIEW: This was almost a panic reaction, he sees the ball there and his arm is up. He moves his arm through and I can understand why the referee gave that.

MATCH: Norwich v Newcastle, Saturday

INCIDENT: In the build up to Norwich's winner, there was debate over whether Jonny Howson should have been pulled up for handball. The referee allowed play to continue.

GALLAGHER'S VERDICT: Goal should be disallowed

Jonny Howson appeared to handle the box in the penalty box before laying the ball off for Martin Olsson's winning goal
Image: Jonny Howson appeared to handle in the penalty box before laying the ball off for Martin Olsson's winning goal

GALLAGHER'S VIEW: On Saturday I was watching this game live and I called handball straight away.

I was sat next to another former referee who said no. The referee has got the best view and he thought no. That's where we're sat. We're not sure. There needs to be a sit-down to say, 'This is handball, this is not handball. This is why, this is why not.'

MATCH: West Ham v Crystal Palace, Saturday

INCIDENT: In the 68th minute, Cheikhou Kouyate was shown a straight red card by referee Mark Clattenburg for a studs-up challenge on Dwight Gayle.

GALLAGHER'S VERDICT: Red card

Cheikhou Kouyate was sent off for his challenge on Dwight Gayle
Image: Cheikhou Kouyate was sent off for his challenge on Dwight Gayle

GALLAGHER'S VIEW: It's a red card but I'm in the minority. What's going through the referee's head is what we're taught.

The first touch takes the ball away, he's adamant he wants to get the ball back quickly so he lunges in. Everything you're taught as a referee is that when that ball runs away the warning bells go on.

You see the straight leg catching him across the bottom of his foot, every referee is taught [that is a] red card.

MATCH: Brighton v Burnley, Saturday

INCIDENT: Anthony Knockaert lunged for the ball Stephen Ward had control of, but the referee and linesman give nothing.

GALLAGHER'S VERDICT: Yellow card

Knockaert was not booked for a strong challenge
Image: Knockaert was not booked for a strong challenge

GALLAGHER'S VIEW: I think Stephen Ward has done him a massive favour [to turn away from the challenge] because in my view that has got to be a foul and a yellow card.

MATCH: Brighton v Burnley, Saturday

INCIDENT: Beram Kayal appeared to be stamped on by Joey Barton but the Burnley midfielder was not booked for the challenge.

GALLAGHER'S VERDICT: Red card

Joey Barton was not sent off despite planting his studs on Beram Kayal
Image: Joey Barton was not sent off despite planting his studs on Beram Kayal

GALLAGHER'S VIEW: The pictures paint a very bad picture. He [Barton] was at it all game. I was surprised he wasn't subjected to strong disciplinary action.

MATCH: Barcelona v Real Madrid, Saturday

INCIDENT: Gareth Bale was denied his first El Clasico goal after he was penalised for a foul on Jordi Alba. The Wales international wheeled away in celebration after rising above Alba to head home, only for the goal to be chalked off for a foul.

GALLAGHER'S VERDICT: Goal should have been awarded

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Gareth Bale thought he had given Real Madrid the lead at the Camp Nou but it was ruled out. Should it have stood?

GALLAGHER'S VIEW: I think Wes Morgan's was a good goal, and this was equally a good goal. I can see very little difference in both, and they should both be given.

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