RateTheRef

I thought the reaction of Souness was astonishing.  When he was a player and perhaps to a lesser extent when he was a manager, such fouls on the goalkeeper were generally allowed and only penalised if the goalie followed the ball into the net.  I agree that goalkeepers these days are generally over protected but such challenges now are penalised 95% of the time, particularly if it leads to a goal.  I thought Pawson did perhaps allow a bit too much to go unpunished, no doubt to let the game flow, but why he didn't blow for this one, I just don't know.  I can only think that he didn't take stronger action over what happened after because he began to realise that allowing the goal to stand was a mistake.  VAR came to the rescue but it really shouldn't have been necessary for it to intervene to correct an obvious mistake by a FIFA referee who had had a clear view if the incident.

Keepers have extra protection as law is clear that they cannot be challenged if they have control of the ball, and one definition of control of the ball is "touching it with any part of the hands or arms".  At the time Van Dyke challenges De Gea there is no doubt he is touching the ball and therefore deemed to be in control, therefore the only possible outcome is a free kick.

That definition of in control is relatively new, and Souness clearly hasn't made any effort to keep up to date, rather reflecting back to and "in my day" approach.

Yes, I thought Pawson was trying to allow United an advantage as they certainly started to play the ball out of the area. However in the circumstances I don't think this was a good idea, and the free kick should have been awarded for a foul on De Gea. If he had done so, he would have saved himself the grief which followed, with the mass dissent unseemly and reminiscent of the bad old days in top flight football.

Manchester United have been charged with "failing to ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion".

The players know that any goal will be reviewed by VAR so why would they engage in such a reaction?  To send a message to the VAR, I suspect.  I am sure they will consider whatever the punishment is to be worth it.  Time to extend sin bins to the Premier League perhaps?

Considering that Mr Pawson, as VAR for Everton v United failed to give a more blatant free out for a foul on DeGea, this one was far from clear and obvious. Poor decision in my opinion.

Advantage? Really? What about the traffic light consideration for advantage? Certainly in the red zone. An esteemed Premier League Assessor asked us at one of our Society meetings what our first thought should be when playing advantage. After a flurry of answers he gave his: what’s in it for me?

Craig Pawson didn’t play advantage because it wasn’t a foul. If it was he’d have given the simple free kick. De Gea flapped but somehow got a free kick out of it.

Quote from: Acme Thunderer on Mon 20 Jan 2020 08:50

Yes, I thought Pawson was trying to allow United an advantage as they certainly started to play the ball out of the area. However in the circumstances I don't think this was a good idea, and the free kick should have been awarded for a foul on De Gea. If he had done so, he would have saved himself the grief which followed, with the mass dissent unseemly and reminiscent of the bad old days in top flight football.

Manchester United have been charged with "failing to ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion".

The players know that any goal will be reviewed by VAR so why would they engage in such a reaction?  To send a message to the VAR, I suspect.  I am sure they will consider whatever the punishment is to be worth it.  Time to extend sin bins to the Premier League perhaps?

Man Utd have been fined £20,000 over their players' conduct (BBC football news).

Quote from: Acme Thunderer on Fri 24 Jan 2020 15:06

Quote from: Ref Watcher on Tue 21 Jan 2020 15:24

Quote from: Acme Thunderer on Mon 20 Jan 2020 08:50

Yes, I thought Pawson was trying to allow United an advantage as they certainly started to play the ball out of the area. However in the circumstances I don't think this was a good idea, and the free kick should have been awarded for a foul on De Gea. If he had done so, he would have saved himself the grief which followed, with the mass dissent unseemly and reminiscent of the bad old days in top flight football.

Manchester United have been charged with "failing to ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion".

The players know that any goal will be reviewed by VAR so why would they engage in such a reaction?  To send a message to the VAR, I suspect.  I am sure they will consider whatever the punishment is to be worth it.  Time to extend sin bins to the Premier League perhaps?

Man Utd have been fined £20,000 over their players' conduct (BBC football news).

Honestly, it's beyond pathetic. £20,000 to Manchester Utd is like me dropping a penny down a storm drain. I can only conclude that the authorities are not really serious about the necessity for a club to ensure their players conduct themselves in an orderly fashion. Either that or, I choose my words carefully, those who are given the task of ordering and ensuring good conduct in the game are too close to those over whom they are supposd to be in judgement.

The only way there would be an improvement is points deductions, seems so simple, 1 point - first offence, 2 for the next, but I won't hold my breath.