Question Number: 22328

League Specific 10/22/2009

RE: Adult

Der NuB of Vancouver, WA USA asks...

To anyone who saw the Champions League match between Real Madrid & AC Milan, I am hopeful you are able to recall the following play:

In the 14th minute, Karim Benzema of Madrid had the ball at the top left corner of Milan's penalty area. Benzema proceeded to beat (badly) Gianluca Zambrotta of Milan and was dribbling toward the left side of the six-yard box, with Zambrotta a step behind and to Benzema'a left.

In a last-ditch effort, Zambrotta, while still a step behind and to Benzema's left, attempted a very sloppy slide-tackle, leading first with his left foot, which narrowly misses the ball, and then following through with his right leg in a scissors sweep, which traps Benzema's left foot and brings Benzema down three yards outside the six-yard box. The ball then rolled over the end line.

In the replay, the referee is shown to be located at the top-right of the 18, where the circle meets the 18. The referee awarded a goal kick to Milan.

In your opinion, was the referee correct in not awarding a penalty kick to Madrid? Please explain. Pleas also take a guess at what the referee may have been thinking.

Cheers to all!

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

The referee clearly was thinking one of two things. The ball has gone over the goal line when contact was made or that Zambrotta touched the ball first and no foul occurred.
If it was the first then the ref could have had a word with Zambrotta but if the ball was over the line when the foul occurred it would still be a GK restart. There is no way the A/R could signal to the ref the exact timing of the tackle in relation to when the ball crossed the goal line. Also, the ref's position at the penalty arc puts him at a disadvantage to judge which happened first. If he was on the goal line, near the play he would have been able to make a more informed decision. But that would have been a poor position for him 95% of the time.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

I do not need to see it to know the referee thought the ball went out of play last touched by Karim. The referee saw no foul preceeding that event! The AR who from what I can see on the replay likely had no better view never communicated anything different hence the goal kick!
What you ask, was this an error? No, not if the referee saw the event as he thought! Was it a poor foul recognition moment? Possibly, no one is perfect, but if he saw it as ok how do we argue that point?

I went and looked at the replay the referee was looking right at them no one in between. He was in my opinion a bit too far away although his angle looked ok. I would prefer him to have continued running towards the play, here he appears to be leisurely walking at the top of the 18 on the far side.

I can see the wrap around by Zambrotta nudge the ball and then Karim misplays it out as he is falling. I agree with you there was some contact after the ball was nudged I cannot be sure even on slow motion and from the angles shown if there was contact prior to the ball nudge. I see the Real coach was pretty animated he saw it as a PK and I think you do too.

It would not have surprised me to see a Pk awarded but only the match referee makes that decision! I give credit in real match time the referee chose a course of action that I, even after witnessing in slow motion and repeated replays remain partially convinced this could be a Pk!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
On action replay I believe the referee made an error of judgement in that IMO it was a penalty.
http://www.footytube.com/video/real-madrid-ac-milan-oct21-25567
Now the referee Frank De Bleeckere from Belgium is a very experienced official. The ref has to weigh up many factors in these situation including
1. Did the defender contact the ball.
2. Is the forward looking for a penalty. The forward appears to look across while on the ground to the ref?
3. Did he get a good view of this or the AR.