Ref Watch: Mike Dean correct to award two penalties at the bet365 Stadium, says Dermot Gallagher
Monday 22 August 2016 18:14, UK
Ref Watch is back to debate another selection of controversial decisions from some of the weekend's Premier League matches.
Former top-flight official Dermot Gallagher has been in the Sky Sports News HQ studio to analyse a number of contentious calls.
From a whole host of penalties given to those not awarded, red cards and a spot of 'simulation', we have it all covered in this week's edition.
MATCH: Man Utd v Southampton, Premier League, Friday
INCIDENT: Jordy Clasie trips Luke Shaw in the area
SCENARIO: Southampton midfielder Clasie needlessly stops Shaw's run into the box by upending the left-back, with the referee pointing to the spot
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision
DERMOT SAYS: It's a tricky one to spot but it's a penalty. The referee has got a great position. He's tripped him but also pulled and Clasie's reaction tells you everything. His reaction says: 'What have I done?'
MATCH: Stoke City v Man City, Premier League, Saturday
INCIDENT: Ryan Shawcross grabs Nicolas Otamendi's jersey in the penalty area, with referee Mike Dean awarding a spot kick
SCENARIO: Stoke centre-back Shawcross impedes City defender Otamendi in the box by pulling the Argentine's shirt at a corner midway through the first half at the bet365 stadium
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision
DERMOT SAYS: I think he's got both right. What I would also say is that over the weekend I haven't heard anybody criticise the referee for these two decisions, which is quite pleasing. Last season I stood here week after week defending referees for that not happening. Now you've got your wish and you're still not happy!
MATCH: Stoke City v Man City, Premier League, Saturday
INCIDENT: Raheem Sterling blocks off Ryan Shawcross in the area, with referee Dean once again pointing to the spot
SCENARIO: Sterling, who is not looking at the ball as it comes into the box from a right-wing corner, stops Shawcross' run
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision
DERMOT SAYS: He was almost like an American football blocker. He doesn't once look at the ball and only looks at Shawcross. It's plainly obvious he's there to block him off. Mike Dean has been strong and courageous and he's got it right. As I said earlier, everyone's applauding him for that and long may it continue. What will happen if this continues is that the players will back off. One thing will alleviate the other.
MATCH: Watford v Chelsea, Premier League, Saturday
INCIDENT: Diego Costa avoids a second yellow for 'simulation'
SCENARIO: Having already been booked, Costa goes over on the edge of the box following the slightest of challenges from Watford defender Miguel Britos. However, the referee decides the Chelsea striker did not dive
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision
DERMOT SAYS: The law says 'deceiving the referee into give a free kick or penalty'. The referee has to decide whether he's made a deliberate simulation to win a free kick or penalty. In the case where a player is on a yellow card he must be 100 per cent sure to send him off. If he has any doubt whatsoever he's got to back off and that's what I think happened here. The referee wasn't sure whether Costa actually initiated contact or the contact was initiated on him and he chose not give a red card. I think that's absolutely right because looking at that I think it is simulation, but if I was going to send him off I would want to be absolutely sure.
MATCH: Leicester City v Arsenal, Premier League, Saturday
INCIDENT: Danny Drinkwater goes down in the area following a challenge from Laurent Koscielny
SCENARIO: After Petr Cech dives at the feet of Jamie Vardy, the ball breaks loose to Drinkwater, who then goes over in the box under Koscielny's challenge. However, Mark Clattenburg says 'no penalty'
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision
DERMOT SAYS: I think he gets a touch on the ball. It's a good call by Mark Clattenberg. Laurent Koscielny gets the ball first and that's why the ball goes the way it does. As a referee you are looking for all kinds of clues. Does the ball change direction? I think it did.
MATCH: Leicester City v Arsenal, Premier League, Saturday
INCIDENT: Hector Bellerin brings down Ahmed Musa
SCENARIO: Musa gets past Bellerin near the left-hand touchline before racing into the box, only for the Leicester forward's run to be ended by Bellerin's clumsy challenge. Again, though, the experienced official decides it was not a foul.
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Incorrect decision
DERMOT SAYS: I think it's a penalty, the referee obviously doesn't - I don't know why. Musa has been really clever putting himself between the player and the ball. Bellerin has got nowhere to go and he's missed the ball and taken him out. For me it's a penalty, but Mark Clattenburg saw it differently.
MATCH: West Ham United v Bournemouth, Premier League Sunday
INCIDENT: Sam Byram commits two fouls in the same passage of play
SCENARIO: Byram first bundles over Ryan Fraser, before the right-back then hacks down the fast-breaking Callum Wilson on the halfway line, with the referee booking him for the second infringement
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Incorrect decision
DERMOT SAYS: Maybe (they are worth a booking each). If I was the referee there and you're going to start having a go at me for that, I'd start thinking: 'You want me to play advantage as much as possible and keep the game flowing. I'm the only one who takes the risk and I'm not willing to take that risk now.'
The easiest thing to do is give the free kick and yellow card for the first challenge and then you wouldn't be asking that question. It can happen, but in the aftermath nobody understands the decision. If it were me I'm the only one at risk so I'd give the free-kick and the yellow card for the first challenge. My tactic now would be don't take the risk.
MATCH: West Ham United v Bournemouth, Premier League Sunday
INCIDENT: Harry Arter is sent off after receiving two bookings
SCENARIO: Arter picks up his first caution for sarcastically applauding the fourth official, who had penalised the player for handball. The Bournemouth midfielder then gets sent off after collecting a second yellow for pulling back the marauding Cheikhou Kouyate
DERMOT'S VERDICT: Correct decision
DERMOT SAYS: You can visually see he's berating the official in front of 57,000 people. It's a passionate game, but everybody has been told at the start of the season that this will not be tolerated. I think everyone is applauding how the referees have taken this on. There's no debate about the second yellow card either. He's breaking up a promising attack.
