We all knew it anyway, but Graham Poll confirms it for Micah, Roberto, and Blues everywhere still shaking their heads in the wake of that Carling Cup semi-final exit.
It was never a penalty ref, asserts the former World Cup referee in the Mail, and on not just one count but two, says the official who once showed a player three yellow cards.
We're sure he's got his maths right this time, of course, when he writes: "Phil Dowd made two errors in awarding Liverpool a penalty after the ball hit Micah Richards’ arm.
"Firstly, with Richards two yards away from the ball as it was struck and his arms in a natural position, the handball had to be accidental. On top of that, the ball hit his arm after being deflected off his foot.
"Dowd’s second error was to mime what he thought he saw. He put both arms above his head to indicate what the City defender had done wrong.
"When looking at replays, while one of Richards’ arms is above his head, it is not the one that the ball struck after deflecting, so Dowd’s perception — which he repeatedly made clear — did not match the fact.
"A handball must be deliberate to be given as a foul. Referees are told to consider the proximity of the offender to the opponent striking the ball, the speed the ball is travelling, whether the arms are in a natural position and if the player had a chance of getting out of the way. You can see why City were so upset."
Of course, there is not the same leeway to rescind penalties retrospectively as there is, say, to impose suspensions for any alleged transgression the referee might miss.
"What do you want me to say to that?" the London Evening Standard reports Mancini saying when asked about the irony of Bellamy's goal.
"I am disappointed because I didn't get to the final. What changes if Bellamy scores, or Gerrard or Carroll? I am happy with the players I have got. Bellamy scored. I am also happy for him."
In other news, Mario Balotelli is being quoted for a change, insisting to reporters that he did not catch Scott Parker intentionally in the incident that brought a four-match ban.
Goal.com reports his words thus: "I have accepted the ban because I couldn't prove my innocence. But I'm not a villain or violent. I didn't try to [place my] heel [on] Parker.
