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Ref Watch: Zaha deserved yellow
- Updated: December 27, 2016
Ref Watch is back to debate another selection of controversial decisions from some of the Boxing Day Premier League matches.
Former top-flight official Dermot Gallagher has been in the Sky Sports News HQ studio to analyse a number of contentious calls.
From more bookings for simulation, red cards being avoided, contentious penalty calls to mascot mayhem, we have it all covered in this week’s edition.
Watford 1-1 Crystal Palace
INCIDENT: Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha goes down under challenge from Watford’s Miguel Britos in the penalty area.
SCENARIO: Referee Mark Clattenburg judged that Zaha had in fact dived, and promptly brandished the yellow card. After the match, the Watford mascot mocked Zaha, diving next him as he left the pitch, which angered the Palace winger and Sam Allardyce.
DERMOT’S VERDICT: Correct decision
DERMOT SAYS: I don’t think it is a penalty. I don’t even think it is in the penalty area to be honest. Zaha moves into the player, and Mark [Clattenburg] has seen that and yellow carded him for that. Britos is doing his best to avoid contact, and that is what Mark has seen, it is Zaha who has initiated the contact and it is not a foul.
It is up to the FA to speak to the club and let them know what they should do about the (mascot) incident. Zaha will argue that he is trying to incite him, but it is good that his colleagues have laughed it off. It is Christmas isn’t it? A time of fun, and maybe it is time to just calm down and accept it was a bit of fun.
Watford 1-1 Crystal Palace
INCIDENT: Watford were awarded a penalty of their own with 20 minutes remaining when Sebastian Prodl was bundled to the floor by Damien Delaney.
SCENARIO: Much has been made of penalty decisions given for grappling in the box, and the Palace players …
