Ref Watch: Jurgen Klopp's 'dry pitch' arguments are unfounded
Monday 23 April 2018 16:27, UK
Was Jurgen Klopp right to complain about the pitch condition at West Brom? And was Wilfried Zaha's booking for a dive unjust?
Dermot Gallagher is back for the latest instalment of Ref Watch, running through all the biggest decisions from a packed weekend of football.
West Brom 2-2 Liverpool, Saturday
INCIDENT: Danny Ings goes down in the penalty area under the challenge of Craig Dawson, but referee Stuart Attwell waves play on.
DERMOT'S VIEW: I thought it was a penalty. I think Stuart has looked at where the ball is coming in and has lost focus on where both players are. He's looked up, seen them go over, and thinks it's just a coming together. Jake Livermore possibly blocks his view, but I think he's focusing too much on the ball.
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INCIDENT: Ahmed Hegazi seemingly punches Danny Ings in the stomach after going up for an aerial ball. Referee Attwell gave a free-kick to West Brom for the coming together, and did not see Hegazi punch Ings.
DERMOT'S VIEW: This is actually one of the most bizarre incidents I've seen over the weekend. I looked at first and thought it was a playful tap, but Ings reacts. I think that's quite possibly one that the FA may look at and decide on later on.
INCIDENT: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp described The Hawthorns playing surface as 'dangerous', insisting it got drier as the game went on.
DERMOT'S VIEW: [Laughing] I just didn't get this at all. It's up to West Brom whether they water the pitch at half-time, the pitch was perfect for the game and the referee judged that, saying both halves were playable. So I don't know what more they can do!
DANNY MILLS' VIEW: How can you come out and say the pitch is too dry? Next it's going to be: 'The pitch is too wet, too green, wrong shade of green?' That's just ridiculous. It was 24, 25 degrees, and would have dried out quickly.
DENNIS WISE'S VIEW: When we were at Wimbledon we used to make the grass longer, because we wanted to hold it up, so that was the advantage there. If the team don't wish to water their pitch at half-time, it's their choice. They wanted it dry because Liverpool pass it.
Watford 0-0 Crystal Palace, Saturday
INCIDENT: Wilfried Zaha is booked for simulation for the fourth time since the beginning of the 2015/16 season, more than any other player, after going down in the area following a challenge from Adrian Mariappa. Zaha told Goals on Sunday he is being unfairly portrayed as a diver, insisting there is an agenda against him in parts of the media.
DERMOT'S VIEW: I have sympathy with the referee Chris Kavanagh, but I don't understand why he books him for a dive. He may not see it as a foul - and I do see it as a foul - but I definitely don't think it's a dive. It's not a massive amount of bookings, and somebody has got to be top of the pile! I don't think it was a dive.
Chelsea 2-0 Southampton, FA Cup, Sunday
INCIDENT: Southampton have a goal disallowed after Charlie Austin is adjudged to have fouled Willy Caballero near the goalline, and despite VAR being in use during the game, the VAR saw no reason for the referee to have another look. Saints manager Mark Hughes said VAR should have been used.
DERMOT'S VIEW: The referee Martin Atkinson gave a free-kick to Chelsea because he felt Caballero was in control of the ball when Austin challenged him. VAR wouldn't have been needed anyhow because it can't debate the decision because it is not clear and obvious, and if the ball had gone over the line anyhow, the GDS would have gone up and you wouldn't have needed VAR at all.
Millwall 0-3 Fulham, Friday
INCIDENT: Millwall's Tim Cahill leaves an elbow on Fulham's Ryan Fredericks near the touchline, but Andre Marriner doesn't spot it.
DERMOT'S VIEW: He's definitely lucky. I think it's a case of the referee not seeing it because it's on the far side, but without doubt the FA will look at that.
