In Behind the Whistle, former Premier League referee Chris Foy goes through a selection of key match decisions from the latest action in the Sky Bet Championship, League One and League Two.
Behind the Whistle aims to provide supporters of EFL clubs with decision-making considerations as well as clarifying specific calls to give them an understanding of the laws of the game.
As part of a regular feature on Sky Sports after the conclusion of matchday, Foy will be here to run some refereeing stuff in the EFL…
Watford 1-0 Oxford United
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A Watford defender and an Oxford United forward scramble for the ball outside the penalty area, then fall inside. The referee awarded a free kick and not a penalty
Occurrence: Possible penalty (Oxford United)
Decision: No penalty (Oxford United)
Foy said: “I think this is a good example of an officer being clear and concise and it was the right decision not to impose a penalty in this case.
“The defender has held the first, and although there are some holding together as the attacker holding into the defender’s shorts, the main offender is undoubtedly the defender. It is also important to recognize that the impact of this holding is outside the box, with them then falling into the penalty area, rather than sustained action that continued to the box The impactful holding happened outside.
“The position of the referee allows him to identify the location of the impactful holding and the right call is made to give a free kick and no penalty.
Stoke City 1-1 Millwall
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The Millwall defenders held back the Stoke forwards denying them a clear goal scoring chance and not trying to play the ball. Should he be given a penalty and a red card?
Occurrence: Possible penalty and red card (Stoke City)
Decision: No penalty (Stoke City)
Foy said: “When the corner went into the penalty area there was a clear holding action by the Millwall No 5, it clearly affected the ability of the Stoke forwards.
“The tackle also denied a clear goalscoring opportunity and, as there was no attempt to play the ball, the referee had to award a penalty kick and show the Millwall defender a red card for DOGSO (denying a clear goalscoring opportunity).
“The referee will be disappointed to have missed this, probably because his position was a bit more central and therefore he was looking at the back of the defender, instead of seeing the situation from the other side.”
Burton Albion 2-0 Shrewsbury Town
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Burton Albion’s number 9 was ruled offside and the incoming number 7 made a successful effort. The assistant referee lowers the flag and the goal is awarded…
Occurrence: Goal scored, possibly offside (Burton Albion)
Decision: Goal awarded (Burton Albion)
Foy said: “It was a very good decision by the assistant referee as there were two attackers who wanted to get on the end of the cross that went in, one of them appeared to be in an offside position when the ball was played.
“Even though Burton Albion’s No 9 only strayed offside, he wasn’t actively involved in the play, and it was the player who came in (No 7) at the back post who finally made contact with the ball and scored.
“The assistant referee was right to keep the flag down and allow the goal to stand.”
Fleetwood 1-0 Bradford City
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Bradford strikers and Fleetwood defenders have arrived, is this a clear goal scoring opportunity? The referee chose to play on…
Occurrence: Possible denial of goal scoring chance – DOGSO (Fleetwood)
Decision: No offense (Fleetwood)
Foy said: “In a fast developing phase of the game, Fleetwood No 5 and Bradford No 9 came into contact when both turned to chase the ball, resulting in both players falling to the ground. The referee’s position here allowed him to correctly identify if contact between players does not meet the high threshold for penalizing contact, and which actually allows the play to continue This means that the situation does not need to be considered as being able to deny the obvious goal-scoring opportunity as there is no foul.
“If the referee penalizes the defender, there is always an element of doubt that the attacker can control the ball and advance in the goal, then it will be a promising attack, and not a DOGSO.”
