Last minute penalty decision

[sanjay23]

Game context: bottom two in league, (away team bottom)
Home team had two possible penalty shouts, both were definitely fouls but so close to the edge, I gave them both as a freekick. Away team also had a penalty shout but no foul given - another close call though.

Away team took the lead in the 90th min - no complaints with goal. Home team then on the attack with ball in the penalty area. Home team player takes his shot and is immediately wiped out by an Away team player. The shot was poor and easily saved but I didn’t think he was impeded by the late tackle. I’d given fouls for late tackles all game but in that moment I felt I couldn’t give the penalty because of the clear shot on goal.

Looking back, I’m disappointed I didn’t give it because I think it would’ve been the less controversial decision as it’s a foul anywhere else on the pitch. I know this has probably been discussed before but I would like some advice on whether a penalty would’ve been the right decision here?

 

[santa sangria]

If the ball is clearly in play still, and if an attacker is clearly wiped out by a defender, of course you should whistle.

If the ball is not clearly in play, like a shot heading wide, or blasted over the bar, then ”football doesn’t expect” the whistle - even if you can justify it to yourself, unless a foul is outrageous… no one wants you to say ”I think the ball was still in play by 2cm!

Even if there is an outrageous foul in the act of shooting, if you decide you have to whistle you also need to be really sure about in/out of play. Sometimes the best outcome is a GK and a yellow card.

Your OP sounds like you already know it was an easy PK to give. Also remember you can only manage the players so much. They do stupid things that demand the whistle!

 

[one]

Not really advice on your incidents, but in general I encourage you to be a bit more 'brave' in your approach. Seems you are trying to avoid controversy and that is impacing your decisions. I could be wrong of course.

 

[socal lurker]

Not really advice on your incidents, but in general I encourage you to be a bit more 'brave' in your approach. Seems you are trying to avoid controversy and that is impacing your decisions. I could be wrong of course.

I had a similar thought. When you say “both were definitely fouls but so close to the edge” it seems you were saying that they were in the PA, but you moved them out for a FK because they were close to the edge. If it’s. pK, give the Pk. Don’t play games by moving things out.

 

[sanjay23]

I had a similar thought. When you say “both were definitely fouls but so close to the edge” it seems you were saying that they were in the PA, but you moved them out for a FK because they were close to the edge. If it’s. pK, give the Pk. Don’t play games by moving things out.

No i was saying they were close enough they could’ve been in or on the line but i couldn’t 100% confirm that without a replay hence no penalty given. I added those incidents to give context of how the game went and how I only made decisions I was absolutely certain of. I think given that context I should’ve given the last penalty because I was certain it was a foul but I had a moment of doubt because the shot had been taken unimpeded. I probably was afraid of making a controversial decision which might’ve affected the game but ironically the controversial decision was not giving it

 

[Kent Ref]

Penalty.

 

[Redref34]

Small bit of advice that you may have already thought of: Try getting yourself on a better position to be able to see inside and out PA (not always possible granted).

Take your time and always run in towards the foul once it has happened - a short delay between making a decision and blowing the whistle may mean you arrive to the area quicker and can quicker judge if it happened inside or out before giving the decision.

Sounds like you handled it well

 

[socal lurker]

Take your time and always run in towards the foul once it has happened - a short delay between making a decision and blowing the whistle may mean you arrive to the area quicker and can quicker judge if it happened inside or out before giving the decision.

And can also make it look like you were in even better position than you were to make the call . . .