Given the ridiculous number of penalties awarded to Salah, Vardy, Saha, St Marcus MBE, VC , DSO etc . in the past 2 years, referees have been told to consider "who initiates contact" when assessing penalty situations. Thus the penalty count this season is down 40% .
Viewing Tottenham vs Liverpool last night on MoTD : the referee could have awarded 4 penalties -not to mention sending-offs ( usually for sly shoves in the back ) , none were given. Kane should have gone but overall the referee let the game flow and the good fortune for both teams seemed evenly matched. I believe that Liverpool's sending-off was their first in over 100 games ( Milner vs Man City anyone?) Anyway, the MoTD pundits had it in for the officials and you'd have to question "who in their right mind would ever be a referee? " ( Actually, for English Referees the rule is quite simple : always favour ManUre and the Dippers otherwise the Press pack will slaughter you.)
Not much controversy at St James' Park . Well, apart from the most outrageous "non-penalty" award of modern times. My take on it : A long aimless punt upfield by Newcastle / Ederson ( under no pressure ) comes out to smother the ball / leaves it to Cancelo to take possession and carry the ball to safety / Newcastle player belatedly enters the fray ( off the ball ) / targets the prostrate Ederson and runs into him / performs the triple somersault ( beloved of CR7 ) / throws his arms out demanding a penalty ( the only thing ever on his mind ). For me, the Newcastle player deliberately initiates contact and the whereabouts of the ball and who was in possession of it seems to be of no import to all the pundits.
And so to MoTD and Shearer's ridiculous "meltdown". I rather got the impression that his co-commentators rather enjoyed his absurd rant and were prepared to put "the matter to bed" by conveying the VAR people's cryptic take on the incident -"Cancelo had control of the ball ! " ( end of story )
A few of today's headlines :
( The Star -Man City News Now ) "Dominatrix who Man City star visited after 7-0 thrashing of Leeds" ( with a "spicy" picture of "Mistress Estee" in the City Shirt supposedly given to her by the City Player to whom she administered a thrashing/spanking -lucky boy)
(BBC Headlines )- "Disgusting decision not to give Newcastle a Penalty" " and "We were lucky -Guardiola unimpressed"
( and from Ireland) "Soulless City will win title but Liverpool have heart and minds of fans"