Quote Originally Posted by sinkov View Post
So now you're saying that the referee and VAR get it right every time ? The fact that they see it differently to me just makes me more sure I'm probably right.

I'm not sure why you would think Docherty was making a block, he wasn't between Wood and the goal so there was no possibilty of blocking the shot. It looks clear to me that Docherty was challenging for the ball with his head, as he is perfectly entitled to do, as the ball was arriving at head height, Wood's boot was six foot off the ground and put Docherty in danger. Six feet up in the air is header territory, if a player chooses to put his boot up there the onus is on him to ensure it's safe, not the player attempting to head the ball.

I've no idea how they work these days, or what their thinking is at any given moment, but is it possible they saw two offences, a handball and dangerous play, but could only penalise one, and chose to penalise the handball ?
sinkov-- you know my views on VAR! All I will say is that, had I been refereeing, I would have given the handball because Wood made no contact with anything but the ball hit Doherty on the hand and stopped its progress. In the modern interpretation, his arm was up in the air in an unnatural positon, which I also personally disagree with, however, in the modern game it is handball.

We will disagree which is fair enough, however, I considered it be an excellent spot by Mike Dean because a lot of people watching were not aware that it was handball ---until the dreaded VAR got involved. Remember that, if this incident had happened on any English League ground outside of the PL, the penalty was given by the referee spotting a handball and who did not consider that there was dangerous play. You would still disagree with the decision and I would still agree with it ---VAR does not even come into the equation --it is merely you and I that have a difference of opinion which still happens on football grounds all over the country ---when they let the fans back in!