Monday 29 February 2016 19:05, UK
Ref Watch is back to debate another batch of controversial decisions from the weekend's football fixtures.
We've got a bumper edition this week as former top-flight referee Dermot Gallagher joined Rob Wotton in the Sky Sports News HQ studio to go through a number of contentious calls, with the Capital One Cup final the main topic of conversation.
From missed penalty decisions and debatable handballs to goal celebration punishments, we have picked out a number of incidents which were reviewed during Monday's Ref Watch.
MATCH: Liverpool v Manchester City, Capital One Cup final
INCIDENT: Penalty not awarded to City after a clash between Alberto Moreno and Sergio Aguero.
SCENARIO: With the final in the balance at 1-0, another City goal could have sealed victory, and Manuel Pellegrini and his bench were incredulous as referee Michael Oliver waved away penalty appeals that would have given them the ideal opportunity to get that crucial second. Moreno clearly left his leg hanging as Aguero darted inside, the only issue was whether there was enough contact for the Liverpool full-back to be penalised for the foul.
GALLAGHER'S VIEW: Wrong decision.
GALLAGHER SAYS: This was very reminiscent of Nacho Monreal's challenge on Jamie Vardy two weeks ago. Moreno leaves his leg out, Aguero goes over it. I have no idea what Moreno is doing there, but for whatever reason Michael didn't think it was a penalty. I thought it was a penalty.
MATCH: Liverpool v Manchester City, Capital One Cup final
INCIDENT: Philippe Coutinho's goal celebration after Liverpool's equaliser.
SCENARIO: With Liverpool's first shot on target in the 83rd minute, Coutinho grabbed a dramatic equaliser, sending Liverpool fans into raptures. Caught up in the moment, the Brazilian took his shirt off in celebration, and then jumped into his adoring fans. He was booked, but should he have received a yellow card for both incidents?
GALLAGHER'S VIEW: Correct decision.
GALLAGHER SAYS: His offence is over-celebrating. That comes with the taking off of the jersey and going into the fans. It's all the same process - if he did one thing and didn't do the other he'd still only be booked. It is an absolute nightmare for referees when someone does it on a yellow card - you don't want to do it and get called a killjoy.
MATCH: Liverpool v Manchester City, Capital One Cup final
INCIDENT: Adam Lallana and Yaya Toure are both booked after a confrontation late in the game.
SCENARIO: As players tired in extra time, the match boiled over as Lallana reacted angrily to a tackle from Toure. Both were cautioned as a result by Oliver, but should Lallana have received further punishment for his retaliation?
GALLAGHER'S VIEW: Correct decision
GALLAGHER SAYS: I thought he did really well here, and I think every football fan will applaud the referee. If you are going to send somebody off for violent conduct it has got to be malicious and violent. I don't think any of this is violent. Kompany comes in very quickly to diffuse the situation. It sent out a message of deterrent, which is the point.
MATCH: Liverpool v Manchester City, Capital One Cup final
INCIDENT: Yaya Toure, who had already been booked, takes his shirt off after netting winning penalty.
SCENARIO: After scoring the winning penalty, Toure wheeled away with his shirt over his head. The law of the land indicates taking your shirt off is an automatic yellow card, which would have been Toure's second. No action was taken. Should he have gone?
GALLAGHER'S VIEW: Correct decision.
GALLAGHER SAYS: Coutinho's was in the game, Toure's wasn't. This is an extension to the game, the match finished after extra time. Once that penalty goes in the game is over, he could then say he is taking his shirt off to give it to another player. The law is there for the betterment of the game. If you start to use the laws ridiculously, people would not buy into that.
MATCH: Liverpool v Manchester City, Capital One Cup final
INCIDENT: Willy Caballero saves three penalties but appears to be off his line when the spot-kicks are taken.
SCENARIO: When a penalty is taken, the goalkeeper is told to stay on his line, or risk having the spot-kick retaken, and referee Oliver set out the rules in a pre-shoot-out talk with both Caballero and Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. However, Caballero seemed to be off his line when denying Liverpool, with the match-winning third save from Lallana especially glaring.
GALLAGHER'S VIEW: Correct decision.
GALLAGHER SAYS: In real terms the goalkeeper has to be on the line, but you cannot have zero tolerance, it is impossible. What referees look for is that first movement, which they have to accept. Then, if there is a second and third movement that narrows that angle, then we have a problem.
MATCH: Leicester v Norwich, Saturday
INCIDENT: Wes Morgan blocks a Cameron Jerome a shot with his arm.
SCENARIO: With Saturday's Premier League encounter finely poised, Jerome curls an effort at goal, which Morgan gets in the way of, but the ball appears to hit his arm. Nothing was given. Was it deliberate?
GALLAGHER'S VIEW: Correct decision.
GALLAGHER SAYS: It can't be given. It is not deliberate, he's turned away and it has hit him. We talked about the Raheem Sterling one against Tottenham and we all agreed it wasn't handball. You respect the referees for correcting the decision.
MATCH: Stoke v Aston Villa, Saturday
INCIDENT: Villa get back in the game with a controversial goal.
SCENARIO: Villa were doing their utmost to find a way back into the game, and get on the scoresheet through Leandro Bacuna. However, Villa striker Rudy Gestede appeared to control the ball with his arm when setting Bacuna up for the strike.
GALLAGHER'S VIEW: Correct decision.
GALLAGHER SAYS: If you watch, the ball fires off his foot [and onto his arm]. It is not like the Jack Rodwell incident [at West Ham], as he cannot do anything about it. This is a referee's worst nightmare. It is not possible for the referee to give handball for that, not within the directives of the law. Rodwell has his arm out, this one flies off his foot. Every week we are talking about handball. We need to sit down and discuss exactly what is what.
MATCH: Southampton v Chelsea, Saturday
INCIDENT: Charlie Austin goes down appealing for penalty.
SCENARIO: As new Saints striker Austin broke clear, Gary Cahill lunged in to try and win the ball. Saints fans and players alike claimed a penalty for a foul and/or handball as Cahill landed on the ball. Was the Blues defender fortunate to get away with it?
GALLAGHER'S VIEW: Correct decision.
GALLAGHER SAYS: It is touch and go whether it is a foul, but in terms of handball, I don't think it is. He has fell on it as he slides in. Cahill has made no attempt to deliberately handle the ball. Chelsea would be bitterly upset if a penalty was given for that.
MATCH: Manchester United v Arsenal, Sunday
INCIDENT: Aaron Ramsey is only cautioned for retaliating in an incident with Ander Herrera.
SCENARIO: As frustrations started to boil over, Ramsey did not like United midfielder Herrera trying to antagonise him, and pushed out at the Spaniard. Should the Welshman have been sent off for his actions?
GALLAGHER'S VIEW: Correct decision.
GALLAGHER SAYS: If you are going to send someone off for violent conduct, it has to be violent, there has to be malice. This is just a case of two players clashing quickly and a yellow card is sufficient for both adopting an aggressive attitude.
MATCH: Fulham v Middlesbrough, Saturday
INCIDENT: Richard Stearman is given a straight red card for preventing a goalscoring opportunity.
SCENARIO: Fulham defender Stearman stumbles as he loses control of the ball, and as he falls pulls down Jordan Rhodes with him. Referee Charles Breakspear apparently adjudged Stearman to be preventing a clear goalscoring opportunity, despite the fact it was in the Middlesbrough half. Harsh decision?
GALLAGHER'S VIEW: Wrong decision.
GALLAGHER SAYS: I will tell you, I really, really rate this referee. He is one of the best in the Football League. Even he will see that this is not correct. He's 65 yards from goal, and there is no doubt in my mind that that player with the ball is going to get caught.
