Nov
9
Illegal Chest Pain
Filed Under Premiership | Leave a Comment
Didier Drogba may be celebrating Chelsea’s important 1-0 win over Manchester United yesterday, but he can also count himself lucky for staying on the pitch after suffering a pretty nasty challenge by United’s Jonny Evans. Or at least that’s what referee Martin Atkinson would have you believe.
Hilarious refereeing mistakes (mostly for the neutral) are nothing new, but this incident left both fans and commentators truly lost for words. The two players go for a ball in the air; Evans leaps with his left foot raised high, and smashes Drogba right in the chest with his studs without ever coming near the ball. A foot higher and he would have taken his head off. Drogba falls on the ground and begins twitching as if electrocuted; Evans does not even stop to check on him.
The ref’s decision? Free-kick to Man. Un. and a yellow card for Drogba. Now this was not a match-deciding mistake, so he can be forgiven, but what on Earth was going on in Mr. Atkinson’s imagination remains a mystery to all. Perhaps he thought Drogba was trying to impress a Hollywood director by performing what would have been one of the most theatrical dives the world of football has seen? Granted, Drogba was near the penalty area and he has earned a certain type of untrustworthy reputation, but it would not hurt if referees attempted to watch the same game all others are watching too.
Would short video replays they can review really hurt that much?