Layth's Take: Letter of the law inconsistency shames PGMOL
Those who hide behind the 'letter of the law' excuse are completely and utterly wrong as inconsistency continues to frustrate
Good morning,
Happy Tuesday (even if the weather is wet, dull and grey).
Although to be fair, I always think the weather is dull and grey at this time of year, as it emphatically signals a summer of fun is over, underlined by the kids going back to school/college/uni, and the prospect of the nights drawing in.
I always seem to be incredulous about it too, as if it has never happened before.
As if, you’re taken aback, amazed even, hoping against hope it won’t happen this time around.
Which is pretty much mirrors what Mikel Arteta’s attitude to Declan Rice’s second yellow card was on Saturday.
Head up son, you didn’t do anything wrong. Declan Rice pictured moments after his ludicrously soft second yellow card on Saturday.
Yes, you can tell we’re all still rather annoyed at the unwanted gift that keeps giving.
Apologies if we’re still taking about this subject.
They say blokes think about sex every eight seconds, well I think about The Arsenal at least every five seconds, so you’ll have to bear with me on this topic for today.
I attended Arteta’s post-match presser at the Emirates on Saturday, and was struck by just how wearily dismayed he looked when attempting to share his thoughts about Chris Kavanagh’s shocking error.
In fact, looking back, he uttered the word ‘amazed’ for or five times, making the connection that there has been/and there will be such inconsistency relating to the contentious issue of kicking the ball away.
From my seat, ten rows back in the Emirates media theatre, Arteta didn’t look angry. He looked exasperated.
Which is probably just as well, bearing in mind the last time Arteta was so visibly angry at such a poor officiating decision (the VAR at Newcastle) he promptly received a ban.
No wonder Arteta was so disappointed. If we look at the ‘letter of the law’ then it’s clear Kavanagh - and all those who stuck up for him - are clearly incorrect.
……
Taken from Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct
Referees must caution players who delay the restart of play by:
appearing to take a throw-in but suddenly leaving it to a team-mate to take
delaying leaving the field of play when being substituted
excessively delaying a restart
kicking or carrying the ball away, or provoking a confrontation by deliberately touching the ball after the referee has stopped play
taking a free kick from the wrong position to force a retake
………..
The ball clearly moved before Rice tapped it away.
Which means, even if Joey Veltman had touched the ball, rather than absolutely (and deliberately) booting Rice up in the air, thereby successfully taking a quick free-kick - then let me draw your attention to the letter of the law, (Law 13.2 to be precise) relating to free-kicks.
"The ball must be stationary and the kicker must not touch the ball again until it has touched another player."
With that being the case, the free-kick would have had to be taken again anyway - thereby blowing a hole in those hiding behind the “Letter of the Law’ argument.
Case closed. Unless you’re the PGMOL and don’t understand your own rules. Not to mention all the apologists with anti-Agendas.
I always also think it’s useful to apply the reaction to a poor decision to the England team.
So, for all those lauding Kavanagh and the PGMOL for 'applying the letter of the law’ that saw Rice receive the first red card of his career, let’s see if such a principle is applied to the two England games this week.
And let’s study the reaction from the self same people who praised Kavanagh for being so strict, if a decision goes against England in the same fashion.
Because, just like Arteta, we’ll not be angry at the inconsistencies, we’ll be exasperated.
Not to mention being ‘amazed’ at the hypocrisy of it all.
………..
Erik ten Hag
During my student holidays as a peniless 19/20-year-old I used to work with a really tough Scottish bloke, moving pianos all summer.
It was hard work, but actually quite fun looking back on it. It was probably the fittest I’ve ever been, and it gave me an appreciation of pianos - not that I can play them of course, or even have one. None of us at that piano moving company could play, ironically, considering we spent all day, every day, moving them around the country.
(Although, if I ever won the lottery, I’d buy a glorious Steinway…)
Anyway, anytime, the talk turned to football in the van between jobs (which was quite a lot), when it came to a manager who had been underperforming the previous season, he’d say with his guttural Scottish drawl, which made him sound, to my ears, like the hardest bloke in the world, “his coat is on a rusty hook…’.
Meaning the boss in question’s job was in an extremely precarious situation, having lost far too many games, and been utterly underwhelming as a manager, not to mention, invariably clueless, hapless and useless at times.
Well, Erik ten Hag’s coat is most certainly on a rusty hook.
(Although, you can guarantee that he’ll eventually be sacked the week leading up to Arsenal vs Manchester United on December 3, just to install a ‘new manager bounce’ that always seems to dog the Gunners. Michael Carrick/Ralf Rangnick anyone?)
……
Jack Draper resplendent in purple at the US Open this week
Jack Draper
I know a colleague who is completely and utterly obsessed with football. Fair enough, I am too. Like most of us. But what makes this particular person out, is that he has absolutely no interest in any other sport. Nothing. And no-one else. Nada.
And I’ve always found that strange. Because, I love sport. Not just football (when aspiring interns used to write to me to tell me they loved football, I’d say, ‘well that’s just like saying you like breathing. Of course you do. I need more evidence than that.”) but all sport. For example, I absolutely love cricket. And I will watch (and write about) most sports. Including tennis.
Which is why I have to say a massive well done to Jack Draper for storming into the last eight at the US Open.
After I took the dog for a walk yesterday evening, I watched, rapt, as the fearless Sutton-born 22-year-old dispatched Czech Tomas Machac 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 at Flushing Meadows in New York, with a bold serve and volley approach.
What also came across was that Draper spoke so well afterwards. He sounded so mature, yet, also seemed to possess a devilishly dry sense of humour.
Not least when ribbing Tim Henman about his attire, when it was mentioned that the legendary (and utterly fearsome) editor in chief of Vogue magazine, and journalistic icon, Anna Wintour, watched on with Draper’s coaching team during the match.
Apparently the tough Wintour is close friends with Roger Federer, and was invited to watch Draper’s match, by Draper himself when they met in the players lounge last weekend. A wise move to get such an influential observer on board, I’d say.
For added spice, Draper will now face, No10 seed, Australian Alex De Minaur in the quarter-finals.
Remember the name. This unassuming but explosively box office lad will go far.
Just don’t expect my singular colleague to notice.
……..
DAILY LIST:
I - To get to East London for Leyton Orient vs Arsenal U21