Leicester City scored a contentious penalty against Middlesbrough.
Rob Edwards was again preparing to communicate with the PGMOL about additional refereeing decisions against Middlesbrough in the draw against Leicester City.
The decision to award a penalty for handball against Hayden Hackney has been widely challenged, with replays indicating that the ball was outside the box when it made contact with the Boro player’s arm. It came after a rush of blood from the Boro midfielder as the ball bounced awkwardly in front of him.
Courtney Sweetman-Kirk, a pundit for Sky Sports’ Soccer Special show, said of the incident: “It’s extremely bizarre. It’s just like a FIFA glitch! His feet do not move, therefore he moves his arm towards it. That’s when you throw the controller at the television while playing FIFA!
“Ayew dispatches the penalty. It is challenging. I’m the first to criticize referees, but in that moment and with the swift judgment they made, I don’t think it was the worst choice in the world. If it went to VAR, I believe it would alter, but obviously we do not have that in the EFL.
When asked about the incident, Edwards told BBC Tees Sport that he will call Kevin Friend, the PGMOL’s Championship referee manager, again. It follows a similar call during the victory over Sheffield Wednesday, when Tommy Conway was denied a straightforward penalty.
Edwards told Tees, “It could have cost us, as could Fatawu’s challenge to Tiggs. He had already been booked. Tiggs is currently in there getting stitches. It’s a yellow card, so they should be down to ten as well. The referee is staring straight at it.
“I’m not sure why, but there are some pretty huge decisions that might prevent us from winning two more points tonight. I will chat with Kevein Friend again. I have to stand up for the club. I’m quite unhappy with some of the choices that are going against us.”
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