In this edition of Behind the Whistle, former Premier League referee Chris Foy goes through a selection of key match decisions from games over the festive period in the Sky Bet Championship, League One and League Two.
Behind the Whistle aims to provide supporters of EFL clubs with an insight into decision-making considerations, as well as clarification of certain calls to provide an understanding of how the laws of the game are interpreted.
As part of Sky Sports' regular post-match coverage, Foy will be there to take you through some refereeing stuff in the EFL…
Sky Bet Championship
Coventry City 4-0 Plymouth Argyle
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A Plymouth player goes in and fails to win the ball, however the referee does not award a penalty
incident – Possible penalty, foul (Coventry City)
Decision – No Penalty (Coventry City)
Foy says: “For me, the referee is misinterpreting what happened here, because a penalty should have been awarded to Coventry City.
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Highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Coventry City and Plymouth Argyle
“While the referee puts himself in a good position, viewing the action from an unobstructed angle, despite the crowded box and rapidly developing phase of the game, he fails to recognize a foul by Plymouth Argyle's No.39, which I believe is reckless.
“The Plymouth man slides quickly into his tackle and fails to win the ball and is therefore very fortunate not to receive a penalty or booking here.”
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Burnley saw themselves reduced to ten men late on against Stoke due to an off-the-ball incident
incident – Possible red card, violent conduct (Burnley)
Decision – Red card, violent conduct (Burnley)
Foy says: “This is a great example of a red card for violent behavior and the type of incident we don't want to see in football.
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Watch highlights of the Sky Bet Championship match between Burnley and Stoke
“As a Burnley player goes to take the ball from a corner, he deliberately stands in Stoke City's 22nd.
“Clearly this was a deliberate unfootballing action that could have been avoided. Due to the degree of force, a straight red is absolutely the correct decision and an excellent point from the referee.”
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The referee only gives yellow for this challenge, did he deserve a red card?
incident – Possible red card, high leg (Derby County)
Decision – No red card (Derby County)
Foy says: “I think the referee understood this decision, because it could have easily been shown as a red card.
“Even though the Derby County player's foot is clearly up, he keeps his eyes on the ball throughout and doesn't cleat his opponent.
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Highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Leeds United
“It is undoubtedly a bookable offence, but the fact that he tackled an opponent with the top of his foot and not with his cleats and this is a genuine attempt to win the ball, is enough to suggest that it is not entirely worthy of a red. The referee sees this well and properly cautions him for a reckless challenge.”
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Watford were denied a penalty and then a corner against Sheffield United
incident – Possible Penalty (Watford)
Decision – No Penalty (Watford)
Foy says: “This is an excellent decision by the referee, because he gets both elements of the decision. First, he correctly identifies that the cross into the box by a Sheffield United player is fair and that he wins the ball.
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Highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Watford and Sheffield United
“Secondly, he then takes a goal, which might make people think he doesn't touch the ball, so why not a penalty. What is really happening is that a Sheffield United player is playing the ball against his opponent.
“No penalty and no goal kick is a completely correct outcome and an excellent decision overall, highlighting the importance of both positioning and awareness.”
Sky Bet League One
Birmingham City 2-0 Burton Albion
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The referee awarded a penalty to Birmingham, but were Burton unlucky not to be awarded a free kick?
incident – Possible penalty, foul (Birmingham City)
Decision – Penalty awarded (Birmingham City)
Foy says: “In my opinion, Burton Albion were extremely unfortunate to concede a penalty here, as I don't think the criteria necessary to award a spot-kick were met.
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Highlights from the Sky Bet League One match between Birmingham City and Burton Albion
“Birmingham's number 14 moves clearly across the Burton Albion defender, 'turns his back' on the normally diving defender without jumping himself, thereby making contact which sees the striker fall to the ground under the defender's weight.
“For me the contact was instigated by a Birmingham player and he is actually the one who should be penalized here. The correct decision would have been to award a defensive free kick to Burton Albion.”
Bristol Rovers 2-3 Leyton Orient
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Bristol Rovers thought they had equalized in the dying minutes, but the referee waved off the goal for handball
incident – Goal scored, possible handball (Leyton Orient)
Decision – Goal disallowed (Leyton Orient)
Foy says: “This is another example of excellent awareness and accurate judgment from the referee as he spotted Bristol Rovers' number 24 handing the ball into the goal at the back post.
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Watch highlights of the Sky Bet League One match between Bristol Rovers and Leyton Orient
“With the home team desperate for an equalizer in the last few minutes of the game, a crowded penalty area can make it difficult for the referee, but thanks to his positioning, he can spot the deliberate use of the hand and award a free kick.
“The only thing that should have been different was that the offender should also have been shown a caution for a deliberate hand foul”.
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Exeter got a goal, but should Crawley feel bad about a potential foul on their keeper?
incident – Goal scored, possible foul (Exeter City)
Decision – Goal Awarded (Exeter City)
Foy says: “Crawley Town were unlucky not to get a defensive free-kick here, for me.
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Highlights from the Sky Bet League One match between Exeter City and Crawley Town
“When the corner is taken, Exeter City's number two leans on the Crawley Town keeper. The touch clearly hits the keeper and prevents him from getting to the ball.
“The lean from Exeter No. 2 meets the threshold for a foul, and therefore the referee should have identified and penalized it, disallowing the goal.”
Sky Bet League Two
Colchester United 2-0 Gillingham
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Colchester thought they had scored against Gillingham but the goal was ruled offside… did the assistant referee get it right?
incident – Goal scored, possible offside (Colchester United)
Decision – Goal disallowed for offside (Colchester United)
Foy says: “This is an excellent decision by the assistant referee here, who correctly identified the goalscorer at the back post as being in an offside position.
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Highlights from the Sky Bet League Two match between Colchester and Gillingham
“Even though it's very tight, you can tell from the field markings that the Colchester United player at the back post is leaning forward, so his head is in an offside position.
“The assistant has the advantage of being on the side closest to him, but it's still an excellent decision, showing first-class awareness and judgement, especially given how far the ball travels across the box.”
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Barrow thought they had scored after the ball was deflected off a Salford defender but it was ruled offside
incident – Goal scored, possible offside (Barrow)
Decision – Goal disallowed for offside (Barrow)
Foy says: “From an educational point of view, this is a good offside decision, and one that the match officials understand here.
“At the moment the original kick comes in, Barrow's number 11, who scores the goal, is in an offside position.
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Highlights from the Sky Bet League Two match between Salford City and Barrow
“The assistant referee properly penalizes the attacker for offside when the ball is deflected off the defender, whereupon the attacker continues to score. The attacker's actions were not intentional play of the ball. However, even if they were, the offside would still be valid, as the defender saved the shot on goal when he came into contact with the ball.
“As such, the striker would have gained an advantage by being in that position and would have been penalized for offside, in the same way as if the ball had gone to him from the goalkeeper's defence, since he was offside at the time the original shot was taken. “