I believe the screenshot you chose and your description are potentially misleading. The photo is taken from behind and shows Partey's boot moving. From looking at all the angles multiple times as freeze frames, I believe Partey doesn't actually 'plant any studs into Kev’s ankle ' but he plants his foot in the space between Kev’s feet and his studs are in the ground as the photo attached.
Partey seems to be trying to shield the ball and is kicked by Kevin, I can understand both sides, either: a legitimate attempt to shield the ball, or an unfair interference by Partey and therefore a penalty.
The incident is very quick and a very close call and could have gone either way. it demonstrates what a difficult job VAR can have, when it's being discussed days later! It's important to respect other posters this is not necessarily a black or white call and it depends on your interpretation.
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Its little wonder the games in the mess it is when you hear the thought process which Dermot and other refs have.I think it's mad that our refs are interpreting shielding a ball as only about being within playing distance of the ball. That is lunacy.
Imagine this interpretation leading to all kinds of new desparate lunges from defenders, jumping into or in front of attackers under the banner of "shielding", just because they may or may not be deemed within playing distance of the ball!
Shielding of course is a bona fide way of protecting the ball but please don't try and tell us what partey did can ever be construed as shielding.
It was a desperate lunge into kevs space to prevent him pulling the trigger on a shot.
Clear penalty
I assume they did not show the laughable non 2nd yellow either for the Rugby tackleAnd of course, Sky completely ignores the Partey challenge on Kev in in Ref Watch, choosing only to discuss the “Dias kick out”, just to say it wasn’t violent conduct.
They did not.I assume they did not show the laughable non 2nd yellow either for the Rugby tackle