Premier League Message Board

If Alan Wiley as a former referee thinks the Ashley Young incident was a penalty because t...

If Alan Wiley as a former referee thinks the Ashley Young incident was a penalty because there was 'enough contact' that confirms that he is one ex-ref who simply doesn't understand the rules of the game. Football is a contact sport. Under Law 12 a foul is where a player Kicks, Trips, Jumps at, Charges, Strikes, Pushes or Tackles, in a manner that is careless, reckless or uses excessive force. It is also an offence to hold or spit at an opponent, or to handle the ball. Nothing in Rule 12 says that 'contact' is a foul unless it is careless, reckless or excessively forcible. The defender's contact was none of those, and it appeared that the contact was actually by Young on the defender, not the other way around.
If that is the best that Alan Wiley can do when he has the benefit of a video to watch, you have to wonder what happened when he was actually in charge of matches. Whistle Blower should sack him and get someone whi is properly capable.

I have to say that, as a referee myself, Mr Wiley could not have got it more wrong. This w...

I have to say that, as a referee myself, Mr Wiley could not have got it more wrong. This was not a penalty. The defender made no attempt to impede the progress of Ashley Young. The sooner people like this are given RED cards for blatant cheating the better. Managers will soon take steps to eradicate the behaviour if they lose the services of the perpetrator.