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      Why Chelsea were denied penalty against West Ham as Peter Walton slams VAR after Soucek’s ‘deliberate act’

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      FORMER Premier League referee Peter Walton has revealed why VAR elected NOT to award Chelsea a penalty against West Ham. Tomas Soucek was the centre of attention in the closing stages of the 1-1 draw between the two teams.
      Tomas Soucek was at the centre of controversy following a late handballCredit: Reuters
      Peter Walton explained why VAR had given the decision but disagreed with the callCredit: BT Sport
      “He more or less saved it! It was a great save!””I would have been going crazy! It’s unbelievable!”@rioferdy5, Gianfranco Zola and Joe Cole were all baffled as to how Chelsea weren’t awarded a late penalty vs. West Ham for a Tomas Soucek handball… 🔎 pic.twitter.com/GszZLP4W99— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 11, 2023

      Moments after he thought he had scored – only for it to be ruled out for offside – Soucek appeared to handle the ball as he attempted to block Conor Gallagher’s goal-bound shot.
      As the midfielder went down to try and block the shot with his knee, the ball instead flashed past his knee and struck his hand, ensuring the ball spun harmlessly away.
      A VAR check then followed with Chelsea players – and their social media admin – adamant Soucek had illegally handled the ball in the area.
      However, VAR ruled in favour of West Ham, with Peter Walton revealing why the decision might have been made the way it did.
      READ MORE ON CHELSEA
      Speaking on BT Sport, he said: “The law is quite clear. The law actually says about unnaturally bigger, making the area for the ball to strike.
      “And the VAR clearly thinks the arm was in a natural position going down there as you said to break his fall.”
      Walton then blasted the decision, saying: “When you look at it closely and you analyse it – almost in slow motion – you can probably see that the ball Is past his knee and then the arm is there.
      “For me, I think it’s a deliberate act and I’m disappointed actually that VAR didn’t give the opportunity for the referee to go and have a second look at it.”
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      Asked about the new regime at referee body PGMOL under Howard Webb, Walton explained how transparency in decision-making was being championed going forward.
      He referred to Bruno Fernandes’ controversial goal when Marcus Rashford was deemed to have not interfered with play in the Manchester Derby and how it would now have been deemed offside.
      He added: “Likewise, if you fast forward to today, in the law you can almost defend the player by saying the arm was in a natural position.
      “But really football, I think as a community, would want that given as a penalty kick and as a former Premier League referee, I think that was the wrong decision today and it should have been a penalty kick.”
      Joao Felix’s early opener was cancelled out by ex-Chelsea star Emerson in the first half, with the result leaving Chelsea nine points off of the top four and West Ham two points above the relegation zone. More

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      Why are the Club World Cup referees wearing microphones?

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      FOOTBALL fans have begged for more transparency on refereeing decisions – and they could finally be getting their wish.For all its controversy, the introduction of VAR has helped referees to often make the correct call on several incidents.
      VAR has become a huge part of modern day footballCredit: Getty
      And the semi-automatic offside system played a huge role in decision making at the World Cup.
      However, fans still feel as if they have been left in the dark once a conclusion has been agreed by the match officials.
      But that could all change should this new trial go according to plan.
      Why are the Club World Cup referees wearing microphones?
      The Club World Cup referees have been trialling technology which allows fans in the stadium to hear match officials explaining decisions.
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      It has been set in place for fans to have more transparency on how the referees have come to their decision following a VAR review.
      And the Club World Cup which began on February 1, 2023 is the first event of a 12-month trial period in international contests.
      What has been said?
      The trial was implemented by the International Football Association Board.
      FIFA Referees Committee Chairman Pierluigi Collina said that the purpose of this trial is to make the VAR intervention more ‘understandable for all’ including spectators watching from home.
      Most read in Football
      He said: “As language could be one of the issues, we thought this FIFA Club World Cup would be perfect because it’s a multi-language competition, with teams and, of course, spectators involved coming from all six of the different continents.
      “I have to say that there are other experiences in other sports, namely the NFL in American football, who have been doing this for quite a long time.
      “It seems that the referees are pretty comfortable with this. More

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      Glamorous sacked referee reinvents herself as social media sensation with string of sexy snaps

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      GLAMOROUS sacked referee Valeria Andrade has became a social media sensation since her dismissal. The 30-year-old has risen to fame due to her posting a number of sexy snaps on Instagram.
      Valeria Andrade was sacked as a lineswomanCredit: Instagram: @valeria__andrade

      The Mexican has since gone on to wow followers with her good looksCredit: Instagram: @valeria__andrade

      Andrade has nearly 150,000 followers on social mediaCredit: Instagram: @valeria__andrade

      Her supporters want to see her start an OnlyFansCredit: Instagram: @valeria__andrade

      The former official has seen her online following grow to 149,000 and she now has fans wondering if she would begin an OnlyFans page.
      Andrade uploads a lot of revealing images where she shows off her stunning figure.
      Lots of the pictures display her working out and flaunting her curves in various outfits.
      Andrade worked as a lineswoman in Mexico’s top division before she was fired for promoting a gambling site.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      Liga MX chiefs showed her the door but she believes the decision was harsh.
      Andrade said: “I feel like I killed someone, when in reality, any mistake can be made by anyone.
      “I didn’t kill anyone, I didn’t rape anyone.
      “What I would most like is for them to no longer speak ill of me. My name has already been horribly stained.
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      “I don’t think it’s fair that for a mistake I made to be blown this much out of proportion.”
      She may not be liked by those in charge of refereeing in Mexico, but she is loved by her new fans online.
      One commented on a post: “As a referee you looked very good, but here you look beautiful.”
      Another said: “Wow l love you.”
      Valeria Andrade is now a social media starCredit: Instagram: @valeria__andrade

      She was sacked for promoting gamblingCredit: Instagram: @valeria__andrade

      The ex-ref believes she was harshly firedCredit: Instagram: @valeria__andrade More

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      I’m Britain’s oldest football ref – I’ve taken charge of 5,000 matches and I’ve no plans to hang up my whistle

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      BRITAIN’S oldest football referee Frank Foster has no plans to blow full-time on his hobby — at 89.The energetic great-grandad aims to carry on officiating well into his 90s before he hangs up his whistle for good.
      Frank Foster, 89, is the UK oldest referee and aims to carry on officiating well into his 90s before he hangs up his whistle for goodCredit: SWNS
      Frank has taken charge of more than 5,000 football games over his careerCredit: SWNS
      So far, he has taken charge of more than 5,000 men’s, women’s and children’s games during a 43-year career and he still refs three times a week.
      Frank, who turned out as a player for Bamford FC in Derbys in his younger years, took up coaching and refereeing after a knee injury forced him out of the game.
      He passed his referee’s exam in 1980, scoring 98 per cent.
      He said: “I just love being a ref — whether it’s girls’ football, women’s, boys’ or men’s, I’m the same.
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      “I love the game but you’ve got to play by the rules, so no diving or dissent. I don’t accept trouble, even from spectators.
      “When I talk to the players before the match, I tell them to play to the whistle and all that jazz.
      “I tell them to not get into altercations and that I’ll sort it out because if you retaliate, then it’s even worse.”
      Frank, of Sheffield, ­officiates for the ­Sheffield and Hallamshire FA.
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      The Sheffield United supporter says people occasionally comment on his age after matches, but not often.
      During his playing career, Frank turned out as a player for Bamford FC in DerbyshireCredit: SWNS
      He added: “There has been times when I’m leaving the field and someone comes up to me and asks how old I am.
      “I ask them how old they think I am. They might say 67 but I’ll always say, ‘Spot on’. I don’t think about my age and I’ll be a referee until I can’t keep up.
      “I might eventually need a moped at half-time but I’ll always keep doing it!”
      On being strict with rowdy supporters, he said: “One time I sent a chap away and he asked how far I wanted him to walk.
      “I told him that if he sees a No5 bus then he should get on.” More

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      Mark Clattenburg forced to flee Egypt after shocking abuse as club chief claims ex-Prem referee is in gay relationship

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      FORMER Premier League ref Mark Clattenburg has been forced to flee Egypt where he was in charge of the country’s whistlers.The Englishman has suffered harsh criticism and personal attacks from Mortada Mansour, the president of Zamalek Sporting Club.
      Mark Clattenburg fled Egypt amid shocking abuse from the president of Zamalek Sporting ClubCredit: EPA
      Mansour has been critical of Clattenburg’s role in Egyptian football and has incorrectly claimed that the ex-ref has left his wife to start a gay relationship.
      Clattenburg, 47, has decided to leave Egypt as he feared for his safety following threats from the supporters of Zamalek.
      Once considered one of Europe’s top officials, Clattenburg was also having his referee appointments changed by the League.
      It is also understood Clattenburg felt he was being misled, while he was concerned by the number of dodgy decisions made by some officials.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      For big games in Egypt, overseas referees are flown in but Clattenburg was having problems in persuading top officials to go to the country.
      Also, Clattenburg, who arrived in August, had not been paid for two months.
      He has been on about £32,000 a month.
      Clattenburg left the English top flight in February 2017 to take over as the head of refereeing in Saudi Arabia and he also had stints working in China and Greece.
      Most read in Football
      LEVY LEGACY
      TOTTENHAM fans might have the hump with Daniel Levy but the club chairman still has big plans for the area around the stadium.
      So Spurs supporters can forget any hopes they have of Levy and owner Joe Lewis selling up.
      Joe Lewis and Daniel Levy have grand plans for development around the Tottenham stadiumCredit: Reuters
      Levy is pushing ahead with the complete regeneration of the club’s domain.
      It started with the stadium, along with housing, a sixth-form academy, sports campus and a general upgrade of surrounding areas.
      Just a few weeks ago, Spurs had their plans approved by the local council for their Goods Yard, The Depot and Printworks projects.
      They will provide 646 new homes, green spaces, shops and workspaces on sites in north Tottenham.
      Work has already started on a 180-room hotel while there are also plans for 579 apartments at the southern end of the stadium.
      So if you think the area around White Hart Lane has improved, it will be even more different in a few years — and Levy deserves credit for that.

      LIONS ON TOUR
      ENGLAND fans continue to back the national football team.
      The Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine at Wembley on March 26 is expected to sell out soon.
      England fans continue to support the Three Lions in large numbersCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Fans are also rushing to join the England Supporters Travel Club, which will give them the best chance of getting tickets for the Euro finals in Germany if the Three Lions, as expected, qualify.
      The travel club had more than 21,000 members ahead of the World Cup in Qatar but even more fans are set to join for the next 18 months.
      Read More on The Sun
      Tickets are yet to go on sale for the qualifier against Italy in Naples on March 23.
      There are expected to be a few security issues for away fans. More

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      Football chiefs to discuss changes to offside law this week after Rashford’s controversial role in Man Utd goal vs City

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      FOOTBALL’S law-makers will this week attempt to sort out the offside chaos after another weekend of controversy.Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City team were left furious that Bruno Fernandes’ game-changing leveller was allowed to stand in the Old Trafford derby defeat despite an offside Marcus Rashford marshalling the ball towards goal.
      Bruno Fernandes saw his goal against Manchester City standCredit: AP
      This was despite Marcus Rashford appearing to interfere with play from an offside positionCredit: Reuters
      Man City players were furious over the decisionCredit: Getty
      Ref Stuart Attwell ruled that Rashford had not interfered or impeded any City defender.
      But the decision was the latest offside call to cause controversy.
      The previous weekend saw Mo Salah score an “offside” goal in the FA Cup draw with Wolves after it was deemed that defender Toti had “deliberately” played his wayward clearing header.
      And the lack of consistency across football in many countries sees the International FA Board under pressure to bring some certainty when it meets at Wembley on Wednesday.
      READ MORE ON MAN UTD
      The “business meeting” comes ahead of the March AGM when formal Law changes for next season will be agreed.
      But one prominent Ifab insider conceded that offside was a “grey area that needs to be addressed”.
      The first move will be confirmation of the guidelines for what determines a “deliberate” defensive play, with more concrete examples of what is viewed as a block or attempted interception – which would NOT be deliberate.
      That would probably have seen the Salah goal chalked off, as Toti was stretching for a misdirected header aware that the Liverpool man was behind him.
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      But Saturday’s events at Old Trafford have heightened the need for more guidance to officials over where an attacking player is or is not deemed to be interfering with play.
      The City defence stopped because they expected the flag to be raised against Rashford before keeper Ederson came out to narrow the angle.
      City could not believe the decision to award the goal after assistant Darren Cann – thinking Rashford had played the ball – raised his flag before Attwell intervened. More

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      Fulham star Aleksandar Mitrovic’s freak penalty goal against Newcastle RULED OUT in rarely seen blunder

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      ALEKSANDAR MITROVIC saw his penalty goal against Newcastle ruled out following a rarely seen blunder. After Fulham were awarded a penalty, Mitrovic stepped up to take the spot kick and dispatched it into the back of the net.
      Aleksandar Mitrovic took the penaltyCredit: Getty
      But Mitrovic’s double touch meant that his goal was ruled outCredit: Getty
      CAN YOU BELIEVE IT! 🤯Aleksandar Mitrović slips as he takes the penalty and the goal has been disallowed as he touched the ball twice! 😲 pic.twitter.com/kh7gOGSI6t— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 15, 2023

      However, the goal was ruled out after the ball took a deflection off of his standing foot.
      Under IFAB Law 14, which details penalty kicks, the rules state that an offence is deemed to have occurred if: “the kicker touches the ball again before it has touched another player.”
      Therefore, the Serbian’s double touch from the spot had to be ruled out by referee Robert Jones.
      Fans online were quick to react to the bizarre incident.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      One fan said: “Once a geordie always a geordie. Well done Mitro 🤣.”
      A second joked: “Still black and white at heart.”
      A third remarked: “This is an atrocious rule tbf. If he would of missed could he of retaken?”
      Another fan declared: “Football will never fail to amaze you.”
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      Newcastle took the lead late in the game thanks to Mitrovic’s namesake, Alexander Isak, which secured all three points for the Magpies.
      Eddie Howe and Co will be more than happy with another precious three points, but the clash today has seen key man Bruno Guimaraes go off in tears after getting injured. More

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      Referee forced off on stretcher after being hit in the head by a ball during Swindon’s clash with Grimsby

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      A League Two referee had to be taken off the pitch by a stretcher after being hit in the head by the ball. The clash between Swindon and Grimsby, saw referee Sam Purkiss struck in the head by the ball in the 11th minute.
      Players rushed to help the ref after he fell to the groundCredit: Rex
      Sam Purkiss was taken off on a stretcher after being hit in the head by the ballCredit: Rex
      Purkiss received treatment on the pitch following the incident.
      He was eventually taken off the field in the 17th minute to a round of applause from fans.
      The match then resumed in the 20th minute as Purkiss was replaced with a new whistler.
      However, he has already had some big calls to make, after sending off Danny Amos.
      But before this Charlie Austin had put the hosts in the lead with a close-ranged header in the 25th minute.
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