Question Number: 31256

Mechanics 2/14/2017

RE: Rec Adult

Russell of Sydney, Australia asks...

Great example of the benefits of having ARs.

In the Bournemouth v Man City match overnight, Bournemouth were correctly denied a goal.

fast forward to the 4:27 mark in the clip.
http://www.fullmatchesandshows.com/2017/02/13/afc-bournemouth-vs-manchester-city-highlights/

At first I though it was great vision by the CR, and an example of how having ARs allow you to look around more, however, with the replay, it looks liket the near side AR (out of sight in the clip) was possibly the one to pick up the foul by King on Stones. I'm thinking it was he, as the restart location is to far from the foul point, and I'd like to think that if it was the CR that spotted the foul, then he would have been more accurate with the restart location.
Not that this is a 'blade of grass' moment.

In any case, great officiating from the crew.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Russell
It was stated in commentary that the decision was made by the referee not the assistant? So there is a question mark there as to who saw it.
Now in my opinion I think that the lead AR does not show obvious signs that he seen the incident. In fact he could be seen to be running with play with no flag. Now he could have verbally shouted foul on the mike to the referee or perhaps the trail AR shouted for the foul or the 4th official?
The replays also show a lengthy delay from the foul to the award of the free kick by the referee. That does not look great from a credibility perspective. So while the referee crew got the decision correct it is questionable how they got there.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Russell,
a correct decision is 100% better than a wrong one I grant you but no official here is covered in glory for how it was arrived at. Yet I agree it was correct so phish tosh it got sorted!
Cheers