Penalty?

[TwigtheWonderkid]

I remember an away match in the 80s or early 90s at Everton (Chelsea that is.) Everton had just attacked and our defender Ken Monkou was bickering with their attacker. Our goalie had the ball, kicked it downfield. Monkou and the attacker were walking out of the area still arguing when Monkou clipped him round the ear. Linesman waved flag, ref spoke to him and gave Everton a penalty, even though ball was in the other half. Of course he was right. It was a foul in the box when play was live, where the ball was isn't relevant. Definite penalty.

Reason I mention this is that I see similar situations with fouls in the area now and nothing is given. Last night, Torres in the second half had a left foot shot on goal. Hopeless shot, ball was going well wide. But just after he shot, he was clattered by the defender. Definite foul, and the ball was still in play. Nothing given.

Last season away at Newcastle. Bemba Ba kicked in the face by Collcini after heading the ball goalward. Ball went wide but was still in play when Ba was fouled. Ref gave a goal kick. Ba carried off and was out for weeks. That was Howard Webb. Don't think the law has changed. Or has it?

[oxford drinker]

And then Ramires falls over in the box in the last minute v WBA, and a penalty is awarded. You win some, you lose some

[TwigtheWonderkid]

oxford drinker said:

And then Ramires falls over in the box in the last minute v WBA, and a penalty is awarded. You win some, you lose some

I'm sure you're right. I wasn't bemoaning our luck, or thinking it was some kind of anti Chelsea conspiracy. More trying to see if the emphasis on the application of the law had changed.

The law still says foul in the box, ball in play, penalty. Yet refs seem to be taking the view that if the shot was taken before the foul, and there is no chance of a goal resulting, the foul should be ignored.