Why not a penalty?

mrb85 · April 17, 2014

It's virtually accepted now that there are different criteria for what constitutes a foul depending on whether it's inside or outside the box. But one difference that rarely gets commented on is the one where if a player gets a shot off in the box and is then taken out by a late challenge by the defender there is no penalty given, when anywhere else on the field if its a late challenge its a foul.

There was a classic instance of this last night in the chance Mirallas had from an angle in the second half. He met the ball first time on the half volley and it went just over the bar. But a split second after he'd hit it a Palace defender came in and took him off at the ankles! No penalty given. No appeals by Everton. It seems that if it's in the area and you get the shot off then the late tackle doesn't matter. Lay off a pass in the middle of the park and be on the receiving end of a late tackle and it's a free kick. Very strange.

ijjysmith · April 17, 2014

I've actually wondered this too.

I guess it's like they've had the advantage of getting the shot off.

Or something.

Khalekan · April 17, 2014

I am no referee but I have a feeling that a tackle after the ball has gone is not deemed to be a foul as such.

Yes, the culprit may be booked or sent off but it always seems to happen after the play has broken down and the ref censures the offending player for an "off the ball offence".

sixtynineseventy · April 17, 2014

Unless your RS. They get them for anything.

DanEFC92 · April 17, 2014

What happened right at the end? Virtually the last kick of the game, was that a penalty?

Abraders · April 17, 2014

DanEFC92 said:
What happened right at the end? Virtually the last kick of the game, was that a penalty?

I don't think so, mirallas hit an air shot, play came through with a big tackle and the chance was gone. Not a penalty for me

hktoffee · April 17, 2014

We aren't RS. We don't get penalties from ref.

Tubey · April 17, 2014

I think it's because a shot on goal counts as the culmination of an attack. Technically, the ref could book the player making the tackle but not give a penalty as it wasn't the same phase of play and advantage had been given when the shot was taken.

Conversely, if the shot goes into the back of the net but the ref pulls it back for a penalty, you'd be furious.

Similar things happen in open play, when a player gives a pass and is clattered late - the ref has the option to wave play on and come back to it.

I think the only difference is that it's very rare, if not completely unheard of, that a booking for a late challenge following a shot on goal occurs, yet there's nothing in the rule book to prevent it happening.

mglennon · April 17, 2014

We're not called Liverpool so dont get "spanish" penalties .

toffeejack · April 17, 2014

noticed the same thing, i believe it may be because the ball has gone out of play and therefore, it's not really obstruction??

personally, it's not a pen for me, nor should be a free kick anywhere on the pitch, a player can't help it if his momentum takes him into another player, but i suppose if the ball comes straight back into that area and the player is still on the floor, it's sort of obstruction? or just unlucky.

there's too many fouls these days, stupid ones where a player feathers another's leg after they have kicked the ball upfield, that's not a free kick in any way, it's a contact sport, refs seem to forget these days that a player cannot become invisible just after a ball is kicked.