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Ex-Referees Slam Decision To Send Cresswell Off

By Scott Johnson

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 15: Aaron Cresswell of West Ham United (3) is shown a red card and is sent off by referee Martin Atkinson during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and West Ham United at Selhurst Park on October 15, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 15: Aaron Cresswell of West Ham United (3) is shown a red card and is sent off by referee Martin Atkinson during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and West Ham United at Selhurst Park on October 15, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images) /
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Whilst it’s great to finally pick up three points again, there always seems to be something with West Ham. We never seem to come away clean. Whether it be referee decisions or injuries, they just seem to come at the wrong time. This week was no mistake.

The Decision

It looked like being an all round good night for Aaron Cresswell. Having been injured for the start of the season he was straight back in showing what we’d missed. His cross from the left set up Lanzini perfectly and it looked like he hadn’t missed a day. So when Cabaye stuck out his leg, caught Cresswell on the leg in the penalty area and the ref blew his whistle it looked like the day was about to get even better. Not quite.

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The referee booked Cresswell for the dive. Not only was their contact, there was enough that it could have easily been a penalty. Then straight back down the other end, and Cresswell is back defending. Zaha knocks it past him, there’s a coming together of the two players and it’s a freekick to Palace. And a second yellow card.

Not only was it a soft freekick, but it was less than 60 seconds after the first yellow. Referee Martin Atkinson had put West Ham right on the back foot in under a minute.

Professional Reaction

Although I felt like I was being biased whilst watching and shouting that the ref was an idiot, there were those who have much more experience in the matter. I think it’s fair to say the ex referees didn’t agree with the official’s decision either.

And Webb wasn’t the only one who thought the ref got it wrong. Ex referee Dermot Gallagher also thought that justice had not been done. However in his quote he does allude as to why there is a difference of opinion.

"“It is easy seeing the replays that he shouldn’t have been booked for simulation,” he told Sky Sports.“It’s not a simulation and it’s unfortunate he gets a yellow card. What’s unfortunate is the consequence that arises from it a minute later.”"

The replays make it obvious. How long is it until football catches up with other sports? All that would have taken was a simple look at the replay from the fourth official and suddenly there’s no booking and possibly a penalty to West Ham. But that’s not the only issue, as David Gold points out:

West Ham can’t challenge the red card because it was two bookable offences. How backwards is that? It does mean that Cresswell’s come back was only one game long, and he’ll miss the Sunderland match this weekend.

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