2023-12-28 14:35:00
As usual, Amadou Onana gave everything once morest the Citizens. Whether in recovery or projection, we can never blame him for his enormous burst of energy. Problem: she sometimes plays tricks on him. We saw him at the World Cup or more recently once morest Austria, he sometimes makes certain mistakes because of his boundless enthusiasm.
But it’s hard to blame him for anything once morest Manchester City. 64th minute: the colossus fights with Nathan Aké to counter the ball in the area. Unfortunately, the ball hits his hand which is in front of his face. Between Aké’s touch and that of Onana, 0.2 seconds elapse. Enough to give a penalty according to… the referee. The main referee first gave a corner before changing his mind with the advice of his assistant.
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This contentious phase is causing a lot of noise on the other side of the Channel. Above all, it is symbolic of the frustration felt by many coaches in the world. “Is there a penalty?” asked Everton coach Sean Dyche. “I’ve no idea !” Before giving his thoughts: “I don’t think anyone has the slightest idea. A few months ago we had a Zoom call regarding hand faults. All the managers said it was a joke and we didn’t know why they were giving penalties.”
The fed up is therefore general. “Obviously, the rules stipulate that a penalty had to be given. But hey, the linesman was 50 meters from the goal and he still signaled it. I’m not saying it’s the referee’s fault, he’s trying to follow the rules. What if this hand was deliberate? Of course not!” As a reminder, the main referee also confirmed his opinion with VAR.
(Video from 3’30)
Penalty or not? Shared opinions
As is often the case in this type of phase, two camps clash. Those who are for it, and those who are once morest it. For Amazon Prime, Roberto Martinez gave a clear opinion. “For me, it’s not a penalty at all,” said the former Red Devils coach. “I believe that those who know football will all say that it does not deserve such a sanction.” Present alongside him, Mark Clattenburg, a former Premier League referee, had a more nuanced opinion. “No one is saying that this decision is bad,” he continued. “With today’s rules, the hand must be whistled. But we can ask ourselves a question: is this rule good? If it’s bad, you have to adapt it.”
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For Sean Dyche, the rule has become far too strict and nuance is no longer possible. “What concerns me is that the regulations are no longer flexible at all,” said the Onana coach. “Previously, experienced referees used the rules in the direction of the game. Today, the perspective is different. The rules are the rules and that’s it. Sometimes they make decisions with a crystal ball!” According to him, this notion of intentionality must be taken into account. “If it is deliberate, Amadou must change position! It was a feline reflex, what a stop!”, he finished with great irony.
“A textbook case”
For Sky Sports, Dermot Gallagher, a former Premier League referee, also gave his opinion on this phase. “This is a textbook case,” he began. “The rule is: Does the ball hit the arm above the shoulder or above the head? In this action, his arm is at the height of his head. So, you have to see if he is close to the action and if he has had time to react. As soon as I saw the replay, I knew the penalty was going to be awarded under the current rules.”
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Gallagher understands Sean Dyche’s frustration. “Before, offside was the big talking point. Today, it’s hand faults. They try to make the rule as precise. But I think it makes things even more difficult for the referees. They have become the victims of these new directives. Indeed, this gesture was not deliberate. But deliberateness is not included in the rule. And in truth, 90% of penalties given are not voluntary.”
Will these different controversies change things? For Gallagher, this is a necessity. For referees and players on the field. “At the general meeting in March, I think it is inevitable. Week following week, the subject comes up once more. There have never been so many penalties given for hand faults.”
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