at risk of repeating what i advocated a few months back (when we'd probably been done again), i suggested when a referee thinks that a foul has been committed in the area, or indeed thinks that a foul may have been committed in the area, he blows for a "conditional penalty",that decision is then reviewed, and i honestly couldn't care less, whether it is by the referee alone, the ref and the 4th official, or a video official / panel in the stands, or a combination of the above.
Having reviewed the decision the game re-starts from the penalty spot, with either a penalty kick or a free kick to the defending side. Hopefully this safety net approach would give courage to the likes of Roger East (who unless he is bent, was presumably too scared of making a mistake and potentially give City the game) and he should have no qualms about awarding a "conditional penalty" knowing full well that he/ others will check the award, before it is taken.He may well, also have given a 'conditional' for the challenge on Sergio, and indeed Everton may have had a claim for one, however on review we certainly would have had at least one penalty. I am not suggesting this is a perfect solution, but it has to be an big improvement!!
Equally the joke penalty that a presumably good intentioned newbie referee awarded to Swansea the other night, would still have been whistled as a "conditional penalty" but once reviewed could not fail to be rescinded, and the game would have re-started with a free kick to Sunderland.
I honestly can't see any downside to this proposal
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