THE DECISION TO award England a penalty in the Euro 2020 semi-final against Denmark was “not a scandal”, according to Uefa referees’ chief Roberto Rosetti.
The Italian said that the VAR agreed with Dutch referee Danny Makkelie that there had been contact between the right leg of Raheem Sterling and Danish defender Joakim Maehle, and had therefore not recommended an on-field review.
Sterling was accused of simulation and of initiating the contact with Maehle. Rosetti agreed that there was an argument to be had about “the intensity of the contact” and had said earlier in the tournament that Uefa did not like soft penalties. However, he felt the decision on Sterling had been reached through the correct procedure.
“It was not a scandal. It is something we can discuss, absolutely,” he said.
“The defender didn’t play the ball, there was a clear action of the defender, a clear movement of the right leg.
Danny saw the contact, the clear contact of the right leg against the right leg of Sterling. This is what the referee saw on the field of play. We can discuss about the intensity of the contact, but this is what the referee saw, and this is what the referee told the VAR immediately after.
“The VAR checked the incident and the VAR confirmed the referee decision because the images confirmed what the referee saw on the field of play.
“Penalties are important, and we don’t want soft penalties and I want to confirm this also for the future. Uefa wants serious penalties – serious, clear penalties. In this situation there was a clear action of the defender, a clear impact – knee against knee – and the VAR intervention was something very, very, very difficult.”
The resultant penalty from Harry Kane was saved, but the Tottenham forward followed up to score from the rebound and take England through to the final.
In that match, there was criticism of referee Bjorn Kuipers and the VAR for not sending off Italy midfielder Jorginho after his studs caught the thigh of England’s Jack Grealish.
Again, Rosetti said that Kuipers told the VAR he had spotted that Jorginho’s foot was initially in contact with the ball, but that it had slipped off and connected with Grealish.
The VAR reviewed the footage and agreed with him.
Rosetti added: “If there was a controversy between what Bjorn saw on the field of play – for instance if the foot had not been on the ball but directly on the leg – and it was clear something different (happened) from what was seen on the field of play, 100 per cent an on-field review could be called.”
Can’t see either team making any impact in the championship this year!!
Actually don’t think so Frank, so little between Kildare and Dublin, that there’s an inevitability Kildare will beat them eventually and there’s that desperation within Kildare team to win a provincial title thar isn’t there in Dublin. That’s a lot favouring the Lilywhites in a tight game
Most likely not but championship about more than the big prize, it’s about the smaller but no less relevant prizes for the likes of Longford and Wicklow along the way.
Big difference to be playing against Kildare, Tyrone and Galway than Kilkenny, London and Waterford and while that will balance out with both being in Division 3, that’s a year down the line. Also, the players were completely behind the manager, that is what kept him his job and since all that unpleasantness, they have been locked away, Joe Sheridan is back, Kevin Reilly is a serious operator as is Seamus Kenny, and while Meath’s midfield is weak, they are still a talented bunch with something serious to prove. Time will tell.
That division has Limerick, Fermanagh & Clare in it aswell. Limerick were all ireland quarter finalists last year & have twice come very close to winning the Munster championship recently so I wouldnt discount the level of opposition Wicklow were up against just like that. As for the players being fully behind the manager, I wouldnt be so sure of that either, I’m sure that was what was said to the media but the reality was most likely very different.
Oi! Don’t be putting Waterford in with Kk & London. We are on the way-up.
I think this is going to be closer than meath by four, Wicklow are a decent championship team, meath have injuries to key players, have just been relegated to Division 3 & are not fully behind the manager. He barely kept his job recently due. I would say either team could win it by 1-2 points
They’ll both be sick when Carlow beat the winner in the next round :)
Very different Limerick now to the one that rattled Kerry and you can’t compare Clare and Fermanagh with Clare and Tyrone. Not discounting Wicklow, just big jump in opposition. Longford managed it, granted, and maybe Wicklow can too. Just can see Meath having a little too much class up front and can see them netting at least twice. But time will tell and it’s an exciting game. As for Carlow, Brian, I admire your optimism!
Andrew McLoughlin? Is he Anthony and Michael’s lesser known, non exist any brother?
Meath won’t win a thing as long as there’s anybody who was connected with the 2010 Leinster final team still involved.
I hope they have a nice game but we all know the Dubs will rule again in Leinster.