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Monday, March 31, 2008

Oh dear Mr Styles

Sven is hardly the most voluble of charcters but even he - and the rest of the population of the United Kingdom watching MOTD - were stunned by Rob Styles' decision to award a penalty to Birmingham when it was clear that the Man City defender Sun Jihai was the one to have been fouled in his penalty area.
Gary McSheffrey barged into Sun, bounced off him as the defender stood his ground as he chased for the ball and fell to the ground. Goodness knows where Styles saw the penalty, but it certainly wasn't one. The penalty secured Brum's 3-1 victory and knocked the stuffing out of Man City's hopes of clawing back an equaliser.
One of those inexplicable decisons? I guess so, but they really are ones that referees must get right. I think Mr Styles will be waiting for the phone call on Monday morning from a certain Mr Hackett.
Still, just like with all refs, Styles has to learn from the mistake. He doesn't make very many bloomers, it's just that in the premiership - quite rightly - everyone and especially refs are under the microscope.

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