The big decision …
First, Paramount presents a parade of missed Parisian chances. Thierry Henry is on their set in Miami, and he is clearly grimacing at the poor finishing.
At last … Unkel comes out and immediately says it is a penalty. The left arm is extended. “Even though there is a deflection, that is no longer part of the analysis.” Not sure if she means that Ifab no longer want us refs to consider that or if there’s something technical there.
Jamie Carragher doesn’t buy it and whips up the crowd gathered by the set. Unkel says she doesn’t like the current interpretation and thinks Ifab may change it.
He’s a bit overbearing about it, but Carragher may have a point. I say that having sent off two coaches in a recreational youth All-Star game when the interpretation at that time said a ball played up into a player’s arm was not a handball call. Ifab “clarified,” of course, by taking out all the specific instances that took out some of the guesswork. No good deed goes … undone, I guess.
Maybe Newcastle shouldn’t give up 30 shots. If it’s any consolation, they looked better than Milan. But not as good as Manchester City once the Premier League powerhouse got their defensive hiccups out of the way.
Anyway, that’s all for today. Enjoy the rest of your autumn.
So what was the key turning point of this evening’s action?
Clearly, it was a comment posted in this space a short time ago …
Jamie O’Sullivan: “I obviously can’t say for certain, but I am 99.9% sure that someone on the City bench read my last email around the 50 minute mark and realized they actually had something to play for.”
I believe it.
Going to hold off on closing down for one more moment here because Paramount is bringing in referee Christina Unkel, surely to ask about that penalty against Newcastle.
