The aftermath of a penalty awarded to Sydney FC against Perth Glory on Sunday afternoon saw Glory boss Alen Stajcic yellow carded as Network 10 commentator Andy Harper labelled football’s penalty laws ‘ridiculous’.
Sydney went 3-0 up over the Glory on the cusp of half-time after they were awarded a spot kick for a handball in the box against Giordani Colli, with the ball striking the midfielder’s hand from close range from a Corey Hollman cutback.
The referee awarded the penalty after VAR intervention and Stajcic’s reaction on the sideline saw him cautioned.
“It’s just so harsh. It is so harsh. They’re not the first team to fall (victim), but for some reason the game has decided that in that situation the defender is cheating,” Harper said passionately on Network 10 and Paramount+.
“It is just ridiculous as a notion.
“The match officials can’t be hung out to dry on this one.
“For some reason our game has decided that in that instance the player is deliberately cheating. Nothing could be further from the truth.
“Totally ignoring basic laws of nature, physics and biomechanics.
“If that decision isn’t revisited, does anyone say anything? Is it dominating headlines?”
However, during the Network 10 half-time show, A-Leagues greats Alex Brosque and Grace Gill agreed that the officials had made the correct decision in awarding a penalty.
“It is unfortunate and I do understand what Harps is saying in commentary, but I do feel when the ball is in this situation and it is going towards an attacking player that is stopping a goal-scoring opportunity,” Brosque sai.
“It does strike the arm while its away from the body and a clear penalty for me.”
Gill added: “I think it has to be (a penalty) for me. As former players, we know he didn’t mean to touch the ball, but (under) the current laws of the game, that is undeniably a penalty.”
