quote:
Originally posted by futbol(soccer):
1- No way was it a penalty
I just want to make a point that I think the TV commentators kept missing. The question is not whether or not it should have been a penalty. The question is "Was it a foul?" If it is a direct kick foul and it is committed in the penalty area, the rules say that a penalty kick must be awarded. The referee does not have the option of deciding whether or not a foul was severe enough to warrant a penalty kick. It doesn't matter how severe it was. If it is a direct kick foul that would be called a foul anywhere else on the field, then it must be called in the box. And that means penalty kick.