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Showing content with the highest reputation on 05/12/2026 in all areas

  1. I think this incident ought to be a trigger to have a serious review of what is and what is not allowed within the penalty box. What happened was farcical and West Ham were robbed. MOTD pundits and a guest referee thought the decision was correct and whilst acknowledging that there were other fouls being committed, they said they were not impacting on the ball. They focussed on the point when Raya tries to catch the ball at which point Pablo's arm is across Raya's throat and Todibo has hold of Raya's top. They conclude that Raya is being fouled by 2 separate players and therefore the officials were right to rule the goal out. Bullsh*t From before Bowen took the corner kick, both Pablo and Todibo were being being fouled by Trossard and Odegaard, both of whom had hold of their opponents with both hands and who never once looked at the ball. Despite being constantly fouled, both Pablo and Todibo had eyes only for the ball and tried their best to get to it. As the ball came in, Trossard put his arms round Pablo and Gabriel joins in by pulling Pablo's shirt. Pablo tries to jump for the ball, but can't get a proper jump because of the fouling. His arm is forced into an unnatural position and Raya come onto his outstretched arm. Todibo also is stopped from jumping for the ball with Odegaard holding him round the waist with his head preventing Tobido getting his arm into a natural position. Todibo does grab hold of Raya's shirt but only well after Odegaard has started to foul him. Finally, as the ball comes in, Raya is actually impeded by his own player, Gabriel. He pushes Gabriel away before making a half-hearted attempt to get the ball It is therefore absurd to say the fouls committed on these 2 West Ham players were not consequential on the play. Had they not been fouled themselves they would likely have made good challenges for the ball without fouling the keeper. It is absurd that rules which are adhered to elsewhere on the park are not applied in the penalty area. We are in a position when nobody knows what constitutes a foul and what doesn't. As a result we get these farcical situations where the penalty box looks more like an episode of Strictly than a football match. After a corner kick has been taken, if a player is seen to be fouling an opponent, the referee should blow his whistle. Penalty or free kick depending on who is spotted committing an offence first. The rules would be clear and managers would very quickly be telling their players not to grab hold of their opponents.
  2. VAR is spoiling the game. Absolutely no question about it. So many similar incidents in games, some are given, some aren't. A real shame that it isn't being used for intended purpose. It took them over 4 minutes to decide that decision.
  3. I feel your pain Hammer, strangely at Palace v Everton on Saturday, VAR didn't intervene when an Everton player pushed Strand-Larsen off the ball in the penalty area with two hands without even trying to get the ball...Strand-Larsen was about to shoot. Not sure what the Ref was doing perhaps he was having a 'Scottish' moment, given what appears to be let go up here. But you can bet, if that had happened to a Arsenal, City or Liverpool player the ref's whistle would have gone straight to his mouth Going to be a tense couple of weeks for you now, but Spur's ability to shoot themselves in the foot may save West Ham
  4. Meanwhile, in Scotland, Willie Column agreed with VAR that Hearts should have been awarded a penalty that referee Steven Maclean waived away even after reviewing the footage on the VAR screen. What an absolute joke. That decision could well now cost Hearts the title...
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