Eddie Smart was wrong to flag for Spurs second penalty against Liverpool

Alex Broun 20:37 05/02/2018
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  • You may not have heard of the name Eddie Smart before but if you are a Liverpool fan you sure know it now.

    Smart was the linesman who awarded not one but two crucial penalties to the visitors in the controversial Liverpool v Tottenham Premier League clash at Anfield on Sunday.

    If this wasn‘t enough he appeared to fist-pump in celebration after the first penalty was given and then – in the final act of the game – vehemently over-ruled referee Jonathan Moss with some Olympic standard flag waving to assure the second penalty was awarded.

    The internet has exploded after the match with debate on the decisions.

    Some have come out in support of Smart with former refs Graham Poll saying he got both decisions spot on while Dermot Gallagher went so far as to say Smart “covered himself in glory”.

    Safe to say those on the red half of Merseyside do not agree.

    Jurgen Klopp was understandably inconsolable at the loss of two points, which should have been in the bag after Mohamed Salah had scored a Messi-like super goal in the first minute of added time to give Liverpool what looked like a deserved 2-1 victory.

    But not according to Smart.

    Eddie Smart (l) warms up before a Premier League game earlier this season.

    Eddie Smart (l) warms up before a Premier League game earlier this season.

    Let’s remember how much was at stake here. In a desperate fight for Champions League qualification, so important to both Spurs and Liverpool, Smart’s decision ushered in a four point swing.

    The Reds now lead Tottenham by just two points – whereas if Liverpool had won their lead would be five points. With just 12 games to go five points is a big margin. Two points – even with one round left – is easily achievable.

    So Champions League qualification was up for grabs, as well as millions of pounds, the fate of many hoped for transfer signings, even the short term future of both clubs – all this comes down to this one moment.

    This is why Smart has to be sure before he starts waving his flag like he’s on a cheerleading tryout.

    Moss, who was closer than the linesman, saw the final incident and quickly and clearly signaled no penalty – so Smart has to be one hundred percent, without a shadow of a doubt, that this was a penalty.

    One hundred percent.

    Did Virgil van Dijk touch Erik Lamela? Probably

    Was it a penalty? Maybe.

    Even most Liverpool fans would agree with that – but the referee has made his decision: no pen. So if Smart is to intervene, and change the result of the match, the fate of Champions League qualification, he must be completely 100 per cent, 1000 per cent certain and how could he have been?

    After the intervention of Smart, Moss points to the spot for the second penalty.

    After the intervention of Smart, Moss points to the spot for the second penalty.

    It was a 50-50 call at best.

    It seemed in the last ten minutes of the match the linesman entered a zone where he was not considering why a penalty should be awarded but why should a penalty not be awarded.

    As Klopp said after the match: “There were some real challenges in the first half, lots of moments when it could have been a free-kick but the referee said ‘today that’s the game, that’s allowed’ and then the softest touch in the whole game decides the game.”

    Klopp was also bemused by the linesman’s desperation to have the final penalty awarded: “Did you see the linesman? He was immediately on his way. He was sure. I would love to blame the whole world but I can’t blame Jon Moss.”

    No, but he can blame Smart – although he won’t as he doesn’t want “to pay the biggest fine in world football.”

    Linesman have a tough job and of course the decision must be respected – something Liverpool players and fans are finding very hard to accept right now – but the most basic fundamentals of the game also need to be respected.

    The linesman should accept the referee’s call unless he is rock-solid.

    As Klopp said: “It’s not about who is where. In the 93rd minute you whistle a penalty when you are 100 per cent sure.”

    And as smart as he may be there is no way Eddie Smart could have been that.

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