Martin O’Neill refused to criticise Howard Webb despite watching Sunderland drop two points to a highly dubious penalty that earned Everton a draw.
Whether the former Celtic boss has mellowed or respects Webb’s reputation remains to be seen with Sunderland heavily involved in the Premiership’s relegation dogfight.
Television evidence suggested that there was no contact between Leon Osman and any Sunderland player but World Cup final referee Webb pointed to the spot with Leighton Baines converting the spot kick.
“It’s not a great decision by an otherwise top referee,” O’Neill said. “I did speak to Howard. He hadn’t seen it back – I obviously have had the advantage of seeing the incident back.
“Naturally, he must have thought there was contact. Clearly, there wasn’t and it’s obviously disappointing.”
Everton boss Davie Moyes was in agreement that it shouldn’t have been a penalty saying: “I did, yes, but I’ve had the chance to see it again. I don’t think it’s a penalty kick – well, it’s not a penalty kick.
“It’s a terrible decision by the referee. It wasn’t a penalty kick and Martin should feel hard done by.”
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Martin well understands what a genuine honest error is , he well understood the situation in Scotland too.
The officials were a joke in that game. Not an unusual occurence though is it. I’m seeing more and more of these offsides that never show a replay due to the fact that the decision is so obviously wrong.
If it were Man U that had this poor decision against them it would be repeated, absolutely. It would never happen to them though, if it did they would get gifted a few penalties in favour.
Head Ref, . . . wonder what he will have to say about his decision, if he doesn’t review, and change his mind (as he did quite a few times on the day) well then what. Whats the point of these referees when they ruin so many games, no to mention league table positions with poor or straight up wrong decisions, yet they wont reverse them . . . Oh, unless of course it is Man U, remember.
The main difference between honest mistakes in EPL and SPL, in the SPL the honest mistakes only benefit one team (the shame) where in the EPL they are shared around all clubs.
I almost agree Stevie. The difference between them in the SPL and the EPL is the tag of honest mistakes in England is real. In Scotland the establishment couldn’t spell “honest”.
True joe still sticks in my throat hopefully the shame will soon be punished for there lack of tax payment which I might add all other Scottish teams paid in full.