Admin
Sunderland were subject to a controversial call just minutes into their clash with Bournemouth
Sunderland were denied a penalty in the opening exchanges of their game with Bournemouth in controversial circumstances, after Jarred Gillett waved away claims for a foul on Enzo Le Fee.
Le Fee had broken into the box just minutes into the game when Alex Jimenez challenged for the ball, appearing to push him to the ground without taking the ball. Gillett waved away Sunderland’s appeals, and VAR confirmed the decision after a brief check.
The Premier League match centre have subsequently released a statement saying that the level of contact was ‘normal’.
The statement said: “The referee’s call of no penalty for the challenge by Jiménez on Le Fée was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed normal contact.”
Speaking on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday, former Premier League referee criticised the decision: “If that is normal contact, we might as well go home. It’s just a penalty. It is not normal contact. It’s a penalty all day.”
Speaking on TNT Sports, pundits Peter Crouch and Joe Cole said Sunderland had been unfortunate, arguing that the referee gave Sunderland a foul for a very similar incident closer to the halfway line just minutes later.
Crouch said: “I think it was a shout – he leans into him, he’s [Le Fee] unlucky. There was an incident just after that in the middle of the pitch where he gave a foul. Both of the incidents look very similar to me, he leans with his leg and his shoulder and doesn’t get the ball.”
Cole continued: “Similar [incident moments later], that get given. You just want consistency from referees – it’s a terrible decision.”
Admin
Bangerboy