ANYONE WHO WATCHED Bournemouth v Watford on Saturday afternoon may have noticed a curious moment involving Watford’s Nathaniel Chalobah.
Chalobah got himself into a great position on the edge of the box, but as Nordin Amrabat picked him out with the pass, Chalobah decided to let it run past him rather than shoot, and a grateful Harry Arter collected the loose ball and dribbled clear.
An unusual move, but the Match of the Day team on BBC appeared to have the answer, highlighting Ireland international Arter who can be seen calling out to Chalobah as he steadied himself to shoot, presumably telling him to ‘leave it’.
As Gary Lineker pointed out, if that is indeed what Arter did, it is a foul for unsportsmanlike conduct and should have resulted in a free.
It went unnoticed by the officials, and Chalobah didn’t seem best pleased — but Watford ran out 2-0 winners, so it’s unlikely that he lost too much sleep over it.
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Gamesmanship if he was English of course!
@Shane McGettrick: he is English.
A foul for shouting “leave it”??? Jesus christ. Chaboloah should know his surroundings and his position, he should know well that there wasn’t another Watford player behind him – at least not one in a better scoring position. He should’ve taken his chance rather then been bossed out of his shot. Artur should give him his jersey to wipe up his tears.
@Cillian McCormick: It’s one of those “I can’t believe this is actually a rule” that sometimes pop up in sport
@Brian Dunleavy: it’s not to anyone who plays the game at any level. Lads get pulled up for shouting my ball or leave it all the time. That’s why you need to call a name when challenging for a ball
@Cillian McCormick: speech play it was called in our neck of the woods back in the day
It was class
@Philip foster: thought so too,hilarious.
He is English
@Mark Collins: ape.
@David: you think he’s not English?
@David: born in England, to English-born parents. Has lived in England all his life. Do you really not think that he’s not at least even a little bit English?
The crowd should shout leave it
@John O Reilly: Nice one
If it happened in a game of 5 a side you’d be fit to give him a slap. A real d**khead move.
@Chicken George: Just being clever. Do you slap all people who are smarter than you? I’d say your hand is sore.
@Chicken George: ah lad
That was a funny thing
Ya can’t go mad over that.
He didn’t call him a —– or anything
Seriously thought
Would most of you go mad if this happened you in an indoor game ?
@Pj:
Why
Do
Dis
@Camroc: clever? Any idiot can do that. Maybe it’s clever for someone with your basic intellect?
@Liam: I didn’t
Way it came off the phone ya gimp
This is unsportsmanlike, so what is diving or going down if a player is next to you in the box? How often do they call that out?
The player should only leave it if he hears a teammate put their name on the ball. Otherwise, play on.
It’s a professional foul but one that happens all the time.
“presumably telling him to ‘leave it’”
Nobody playing after the u-12 soccer grade says ‘leave it’.
Brilliant
He voted Tory. He is English
Rules of the playground.”leave it” is not on but “miss it” is acceptable if not encouraged