Phil says this wasn’t a phantom PK call. Please, let me know the infraction.
New FIFA ratings means new calculations for possible seedings. The big loser would be Netherlands [The Back Heel]
Handball HoF [Daily Mail]
Aberdeen may make a move for Stuart Holden. I’m reasonably happy with this [STV]
Egypt threaten to withdraw from FIFA [Irish Examiner]
It’s not really a fight, but only because one team was from CONCACAF [The Beautiful Game]
A Scottish fan’s take on the likely reinstatement of those banned for life from the national team [Inside Left]
Liverpool are the Club Colonial of England [Some People...]
Finally:
Obafemi Martins is not good with the maths [The Spoiler]
Here we go, it’s time to play rally ’round the gooner.
Look, full speed, it’s hard to tell it glances the guy’s shoulder, not his arm. On replay, it’s ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT IT DID NOT HIT HIS ARM AND THEReFORE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A PENALTY. AGAIN, IRELAND GOT THE BENEFIT OF A HORRID, HORRID CALL.
And it still doesn’t change the fact that Georgia had been shaky the entire second half, that a goal was coming, and that Georgia conceded the winner, on a clean play, a scant 12 minutes after this penalty.
Again, this should not have been a penalty. I in no way apologize for Ireland in this instance, but it’s nice to see that even though I’ve been pretty magnanimous about Ireland getting screwed, I’m still going to get my nose rubbed in something I said.
Somehow, I suspect that had Robbie Keane put Ireland through to the WC with a two-touch handball, the resident gooners would far less fervent in their efforts to uncover the illicit acts of others.
And one more thing: show me in that video where an Irish player makes a conscious effort to subvert the rules and gain an advantage. Thierry on Henry reached out and handled the ball.
Twice.
No Irish player slapped that ball into the Georgian defender.
In both cases, the referees made an absolute mess of an easy call, but in one case, a player (Henry) cheated; in the other, a game official blew a call.
The manner in which the Irish were screwed and the manner in which the Georgians were screwed (and, once again, for the record, the Georgians were royally screwed) are apples and oranges.
It was a make up call for la main de grenouille. Anticipatory make up call.
Definitely a phantom penalty, but it’s entirely irrelevant. Officiating is not the dispensing of karmic justice.
“In both cases, the referees made an absolute mess of an easy call…”
Hi. Referee many International Games lately? Of course not. Not that I’m saying that only referees hold a unique sense of sight, just trying to give a little perspective. Kinda sick of everyone saying how easy reffing is while they’re watching from their couch.
Dustin, by your logic, seeing as we’ve both reffed the same amount of international games lately (zero), then we both stand in same position to speak on refereeing.
@phil – please, Dustin is obviously a pseudonym for Howard Webb
Yes Phil that’s a great point. I watched ER tonight so maybe tomorrow I’ll go perform a surgery, just cause well it looked so easy.
Dustin is obviously a pseudonym for
Howard Webb,Wandering BearI miss Wandering Bear.
Phil–I was just poking a little fun and put it up here because Ned plumb forgot to in his post. I will say that Robbie Keane look pretty pleased with the call (and not at all quizzical as to what happened), almost to the point of celebration. But I hate Keane, so that might be it.