Tag Archives: debatable

David Luiz no punishment over tackle is crazy – Tony Pulis

Posted on by

There's no justice unless Luiz is banned for nasty tackle on Walters, blasts Pulis

|

UPDATED:

21:00 GMT, 23 September 2012

Tony Pulis has questioned the FA's rule that no retrospective action can be taken if players are booked after David Luiz received only a yellow card for a reckless challenge on Jonathan Walters.

The defender flung himself two-footed at Walters with Stoke hitting Chelsea on the break in stoppage time before the hosts prevailed 1-0.

Luiz was fortunate not to make more contact with the forward, just clipping Walters’ shin as he hurdled the tackle. The Stoke player reacted angrily.

Aftermath: David Luiz (centre) was booked for a late and dangerous tackle on Stoke striker Jonathan Walters (floored), who later reacted with fury (below)

Aftermath: David Luiz (centre) was booked for a late and dangerous tackle on Stoke striker Jonathan Walters (floored), who later reacted with fury (below)

Aftermath: David Luiz (centre) was booked for a late and dangerous tackle on Stoke striker Jonathan Walters (floored), who later reacted with fury (below)

But referee Michael Oliver only gave Luiz a yellow card, leaving Pulis angry that further punishment could not be handed out.

The Stoke manager said: ‘The worst thing is that Luiz’s challenge is a very, very poor one, but because the referee’s seen it and booked him he’s not going to miss a game.

‘It’s like a policeman watching a bank
robber rob a bank and because he’s seen it, the police are going to let
him off. Whereas, if he didn’t see him, they’re going to arrest him.
It’s crazy. Ridiculous. But I don’t make the rules. I’m just a football
manager.’

Stoke were only trailing by Ashley Cole’s 85th-minute goal. The defender finished off a fine passing move from Chelsea, getting on the end of Juan Mata’s back-heel flick on the turn to chip the ball over Asmir Begovic from close range.

Chelsea had pushed forward for Oscar’s corner when Walters picked up the ball on the edge of his own box and dribbled at speed in search of an equaliser.

Oscar was booked in the second half for diving in the area and there was another debatable incident when Branislav Ivanovic went down in the box. He was not booked but Oliver did not give the penalty.

Roberto Di Matteo defended his players, saying: ‘Oscar’s is a penalty. I don’t think he should have been booked at all. There was contact.'

But Pulis accused Chelsea’s players of ‘simulation’ and putting the referee under pressure.

He said: ‘You’ve got to let the referee referee the game and I felt Michael Oliver did smashing at times, especially for the number of times players went into the box and fell over. That’s enormous pressure and I don’t think we should stomach that.’

Euro 2012: Pierluigi Collina defends UEFA over Ukraine goal-line controversy

Posted on by

Refs' chief Collina still refuses to back goal-line technology despite Ukraine farce

|

UPDATED:

17:29 GMT, 20 June 2012

Head of referees Pierluigi Collina has defended UEFA's experimental system of extra goal-line officials but admitted to an 'unfortunate mistake' that helped eliminate Ukraine from Euro 2012.

In a tournament heavy on goals and drama but relatively free of debatable decisions, Marco Devic's disallowed effort against England on Tuesday, which television replays suggested had crossed the line, prompted outrage from the hosts.

The goal may not have saved Ukraine from elimination anyway but the referee in charge of the game, Hungary's Viktor Kassai, was one of four sent home on Wednesday as part of a standard pruning of officials before the quarter-finals.

Refs' chief: Pierluigi Collina (left) at a training session for officials appointed for Euro 2012 knockout matches at Agrykola Stadium in Warsaw on Wednesday

Refs' chief: Pierluigi Collina (left) at a training session for officials appointed for Euro 2012 knockout matches at Agrykola Stadium in Warsaw on Wednesday

Collina said it would have been 'unfair' to expose Kassai to additional pressure following the row, which has prompted renewed calls for the introduction of goalline technology.

The bald-headed Italian, the game's best-known official before his retirement in 2005, insisted the decision did not undermine a system of extra officials which has been on trial in the Champions League and elsewhere for three years.

'This was human mistake made by a human being. Nevertheless this is the only problem we had with this experiment in roughly 1000 matches played,' Collina said.

'(At Euro 2012) we had three goal-line situations. Two of them were absolutely correct, the third was unfortunately wrong. Being wrong is one thing, saying that the ball was half a metre over is another and you know it. The ball was centimetres (over).'

It's all over: John Terry hacks Marko Devic's shot away... but not in time

It's all over: John Terry hacks Marko Devic's shot away… but not in time

Rage: Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin went wild after his side were denied

Rage: Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin went wild after his side were denied

He refused to be drawn on the case for introducing technology which proponents argue would remove the element of human error.

'The simple answer to that is that it is not for UEFA to decide. There is a meeting of the IFAB (International Football Association Board) on July 5,' UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino told the same news conference.

'We do what we can. We think that in addition to seeing or not seeing the goal, the additional referee gives a lot of help. The fact that a mistake happened last night, the night before this press conference, is bad luck, but it should not hinder us in our very positive assessment of the last three years.

'We will see what the IFAB decides and we will see which leagues implement it if they do. But for the moment we have not seen any 100 percent success rate so far on any goal-line technology,' Infantino added.

Chelsea 2 Benfica 1 (3-1 agg): Frank Lampard and Raul Meireles

Posted on by

Chelsea 2 Benfica 1 (3-1 agg): Lampard and Meireles set up Barcelona showdown

|

UPDATED:

20:52 GMT, 4 April 2012

Chelsea had controversial referee Damir Skomina and goalkeeper Petr Cech to thank tonight as they clung on against 10-man Benfica to set up a Champions League semi-final against Barcelona.

Card-crazy Skomina, whose performance in Arsenal's last-16 exit against AC Milan led to a three-match ban for Arsene Wenger, was at it again at Stamford Bridge as the Blues reached the last four for the sixth time in nine seasons.

Frank Lampard opened the scoring after Skomina awarded a hotly-disputed penalty, one of several debatable decisions that included the first-half dismissal of Benfica captain Maxi Pereira.

Blue is the colour: Chelsea will play Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Champions League

Blue is the colour: Chelsea will play Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Champions League

MATCH FACTS

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry (Cahill 59), Cole, Ramires, Mikel, Lampard, Kalou, Torres (Drogba 88), Mata (Meireles 79). Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Essien, Ferreira, Sturridge.

Booked: Ivanovic, Ramires, Mikel.

Goals: Lampard 21 pen, Meireles 90.

Benfica: Artur Moraes, Maxi Pereira, Javi Garcia, Emerson, Capdevila, Witsel, Matic, Bruno Cesar (Rodrigo Moreno 72), Aimar, Cardozo (Nelson Oliveira 57), Gaitan (Djalo 61). Subs Not Used: Eduardo, Nolito, Saviola, Andre Almeida.

Sent Off: Maxi Pereira (40).

Booked: Cardozo, Maxi Pereira, Bruno Cesar, Aimar.

Goals: Javi Garcia 85.

Att: 37,264

Ref: Damir Skomina (Slovenia).

The depleted visitors laid siege to
the Chelsea goal at times and Javi Garcia set nerves jangling with an
85th-minute equaliser, but substitute Raul Meireles blasted home on the
breakaway to seal a barely deserved home win in what was arguably the
Blues' worst performance under Roberto Di Matteo.

They gave away the ball so often, it
was almost as if they were practising for being without it for the
upcoming clash against Barca.

Chelsea have been a bogey team for
the European champions down the years, but Pep Guardiola's
all-conquering side will hardly be concerned about facing them again on
the basis of tonight's performance.

After winning 1-0 in Lisbon last week, the Blues' task looked all more simple after captain Luisao and Jardel were ruled out for the visitors, who were forced to play Javi Garcia and Emerson as makeshift centre-backs.

But despite caretaker manager Di
Matteo warning of complacency, Chelsea made the most sluggish of starts
and needed desperate blocks from Lampard and John Terry to keep their
opponents at bay.

Spot on: Frank Lampard was the match-winner with a penalty in the first half

Spot on: Frank Lampard was the match-winner with a penalty in the first half

Spot on: Frank Lampard was the match-winner with a penalty in the first half

They finally got going and Joan
Capdevila had to put his own body on the line after an eighth-minute
corner fell to David Luiz, who had shaken off an ankle injury to start.

Terry vented his fury at more slack
Chelsea play as Benfica continued to perform like the side that had
caused Manchester United so many problems in the group stage.

But after Oscar Cardozo was booked for going through the back of Luiz, Chelsea were gifted a penalty midway through the half.

Helping hand: Maxi Pereira was dismissed for two silly yellow cards - one for decent

Helping hand: Maxi Pereira was dismissed for two silly yellow cards – one for decent

Ashley Cole beat Garcia to a long
ball forward and went down after a legal-looking shoulder challenge from
the Benfica man, Skomina immediately pointing to the spot and booking
Perreira and Bruno Cesar for protesting.

Artur got a hand to Lampard's penalty but could not keep it out.

Pablo Aimar joined Cardozo in the
book before the latter almost equalised on the half-hour mark, Terry
clearing his half-volley off the line after a superbly-worked free-kick
routine.

Commiserations: Maxi Pereira was comforted by former team-mate David Luiz as he left the pitch

Commiserations: Maxi Pereira was comforted by former team-mate David Luiz as he left the pitch

Branislav Ivanovic was the latest
player cautioned for tripping Nicolas Gaitan, and when Skomina got his
yellow card out again for Pereira's foul on John Obi Mikel, a red
followed.

Ramires incredibly became the seventh
player cautioned before the end of the first half, which finished with
Benfica boss Jorge Jesus almost confronting the referee on the pitch.

On the spot: John Terry showed quick thinking in the first half to clear one off the line

On the spot: John Terry showed quick thinking in the first half to clear one off the line

The visitors were predictably fired
up at the start of the second half and only a superb Petr Cech save from
Cardozo's first-time shot kept Chelsea ahead.

It should have been 2-0 in the 50th
minute when Ramires somehow let Salomon Kalou's cross run under his foot
with an empty net gaping.

Close, but no cigar: Juan Mata had one ruled out for offside, which was the right decision

Close, but no cigar: Juan Mata had one ruled out for offside, which was the right decision

Emerson got a block on Torres' finish
after being bamboozled by the rejuvenated striker, who then flicked a
rebound wide after Artur saved from Mata.

Cardozo was withdrawn for Nelson Oliveira, with Terry soon following for Gary Cahill and Gaitan for Yannick Djalo.

Blotch: Terry was forced off in the second half and headed straight down the tunnel

Blotch: Terry was forced off in the second half and headed straight down the tunnel

Djalo soon had what looked a
goalbound shot blocked behind, while Kalou shot straight at Artur on the
break as an increasingly-irate Jesus was ordered to calm down by
Skomina.

The Benfica fans, who were ironically
chanting the name of UEFA president Michel Platini, were almost
silenced when Mata drilled wide.

Battle: Chelsea had to scrap for their lives at times, especially at the end after Javi Garcia's goal

Battle: Chelsea had to scrap for their lives at times, especially at the end after Javi Garcia's goal

Djalo nodded over after Cesar was replaced by Rodrigo, Kalou fired another shot wide and Oliveira shot straight at Cech.

Mikel was the first player booked in the second half after tripping Rodrigo before Raul Meireles came on for Mata.

Getting the jitters: Javi Garcia gave Benfica a glimmer of hope in the dying minutes

Getting the jitters: Javi Garcia gave Benfica a glimmer of hope in the dying minutes

Cech came to the rescue again to tip
Djalo's header behind but was completely powerless to prevent a
completely unmarked Garcia heading in Aimar's corner.

Benfica poured forward and Oliveira
wasted a great chance to dump Chelsea out before Didier Drogba came on
for Torres to help see the game out, which Di Matteo's men did in
stoppage-time when Meireles ran 40 yards and drilled home, the visitors'
bench already on their feet in collective fury.

Dynamite: Raul Meireles settled the tie beyond all doubt with a thunderous strike into the top corner

Dynamite: Raul Meireles settled the tie beyond all doubt with a thunderous strike into the top corner

Dynamite: Raul Meireles settled the tie beyond all doubt with a thunderous strike into the top corner

Alan Pardew: Andre Villas-Boas needs to show some respect

Posted on by

Newcastle boss Pardew urges Villas-Boas to show some respect

Alan Pardew has hit back in his war of words with Andre Villas-Boas and accused the Chelsea boss of lacking respect and honour in victory.

Villas-Boas said Pardew had made a “big scandal” after he insisted David Luiz should have been sent in Chelsea”s 3-0 win at St James” Park on December 3.

The Newcastle manager went on to suggest Luiz”s continued presence on the pitch may have contributed to Steven Taylor”s achilles injury, which will rule the defender out for the rest of the season.

Fighting talk: Pardew has been surprised by the reaction of the Chelsea boss

Fighting talk: Pardew has been surprised by the reaction of the Chelsea boss

But, speaking after his side’s 4-2 defeat by Norwich on Saturday, Pardew defended his view and said he was surprised at Villas-Boas’ reaction.

The Newcastle boss said: “The guy (Villas-Boas) is new to our country, he”s new to our press and I think he”s under a bit of pressure. I think maybe he could throw a little bit more respect at it.

“I was a little bit surprised (he reacted like that), yes. When I looked at my stats of my players – Steven Taylor put more work rate and effort into that game than any game he’s played this season.

“Did that maybe factor in the fact he got an injury to his achilles Maybe it did. If they had 10 men he might not need to work so hard. That was my only point.

“I”m not saying that the guy (Luiz) didn’t get sent off and it related to his injury. But I’m saying because we were forcing and pressurising the game there was a factor of that and it’s foolish to ignore to that.”

Pardew also suggested Villas-Boas must learn to be “more respectful and honourable” in victory, particularly if debatable decisions have gone his team”s way.

The Newcastle manager admitted his side were lucky to win a penalty Sir Alex Ferguson called a “travesty” in a 1-1 draw at Manchester United last month.

Red alert: Newcastle were swept aside by Norwich at Carrow Road

Red alert: Newcastle were swept aside by Norwich at Carrow Road

Red alert: Newcastle were swept aside by Norwich at Carrow Road

Pardew said: “Sometimes when you’ve had a defeat you have to find certain reasons why you’ve had that defeat and you voice those concerns.

“But when you have a victory it”s nice to be a bit more respectful and bit more honourable in saying: “Well, OK, we won the game but decisions went our way.”

“And that”s what I did at Manchester United – I said it wasn’t a penalty, but we accept it and that’s it.

“I think it would be more honourable of him if he (Villas-Boas) had accepted that Luiz should have got sent off like the referee did.”

Respect: Pardew is unhappy at the way Villas-Boas conducted himself

Respect: Pardew is unhappy at the way Villas-Boas conducted himself

Match zone: The lowdown from Carrow Road