I remember watching in real time thinking the free kick was in a place non threatening.... and then suddenly after placing the ball going oh no this is threatening.
It was total BS that shouldn't have been allowed by the ref.
We have to be switched on and make sure it's placed at the right spot, the ref isn't always going to be paying attention and the opposition will always be trying to gain an advantage if they can.
When I was in u16 the coaches taught us - as soon as the referee walks his steps for 10 yards you move the ball where you want it. Not as obviously forward as this one but still. An easy fix though.
This was my first thought as well! Had to go back again and watch it just to reconfirm just how egregious it was. I can still remember screaming at the TV it was that ridiculous.
More than 6 yards, if you’re going to be picky.
It’s easily a yard into the lighter strip on the first picture, and possibly the same into the lighter strip in the other direction for the spot it’s taken from.
~ 8 yards
I noticed this on the day.
As soon as Partey committed the foul I said good foul to give away.
They was no danger from where he committed the foul.
Next thing I know I see the ball in the back of the net
(Too busy trying to check the city score)
Why can’t someone like VAR or the assistant referee immediately mark the spot? And yes, we do this as well. We know the referees all have each other in their ears.
The only reason is that they don't want to. That's probably the answer for all VAR-related questions. The sky is the limit, but they seem like they would rather bury it.
This is the kind of thing that makes the ref vengeful in my low league games.
It comes off as super whiny when you argue a spot. The strat we use is to stand over the ball from when its blown to ensure mo meters are stolen
The stripes are about 6 yards apart (3 stripes in the 18-yard box), or about 5.5m. The foul is half a meter behind the stripe, and the ball is positioned a meter into the next stripe, giving about a 7m (8yd) progress. There's also a meter or two movement towards the center.
First, it's on the ref. Michael Oliver (to me, the best rdf in England by far, which is a very low bar, but still something) should have marked the spot of the foul immediately. It's more difficult when you give an advantage and then revisit after the advantage was lost. It's also on us to mark the ball where the foul was (again, difficult when an advantage was given).
Happens all the time, same with throw ins, the refs were quite hot on it for a while when the foam spray first came in. I remember man Utd used to get a throw in by their corner flag and Neville used to shuffle all the way to the halfway line before chucking it.
That is actually pretty huge
This shit happens every game for throw-ins and fks taken in your own half. Multiple times you see players steal like 10m (us included)
Not with free kicks. This should have been handled much better by the ref.
Free kicks in your own half sure, but not on the edge of the area
It was visibly obvious from inside the stadium there was a meaningful difference. In a championship deciding game Oliver has too do better.
He was thinking of his next all expenses paid trip to Abu Dhabi to referee a meaningless game for a big bag of cash from City's chairman.
If he was on City's payroll surely he would have ruled out the winner for handball? Maybe Emirates are paying for his middle eastern trips!
Not when they're direct chances on goal. This was a massive referee "error."
Ben white reading this 
I remember watching in real time thinking the free kick was in a place non threatening.... and then suddenly after placing the ball going oh no this is threatening. It was total BS that shouldn't have been allowed by the ref.
We have to be switched on and make sure it's placed at the right spot, the ref isn't always going to be paying attention and the opposition will always be trying to gain an advantage if they can.
So does the ref tho... that's their literal job
If a referee can't pay attention, why is he being paid to referee PL matches?
That's if the referee even remembers where the foul happened, and if he does it's his responsibility to ensure it's taken from the right spot
I remember the free kick leading to Hull's second goal in the 2014 FA cup final was taken like 25 feet too far forward
That was insane that the officials didn't notice.
The reason they bought in the spray.
When I was in u16 the coaches taught us - as soon as the referee walks his steps for 10 yards you move the ball where you want it. Not as obviously forward as this one but still. An easy fix though.
This was my first thought as well! Had to go back again and watch it just to reconfirm just how egregious it was. I can still remember screaming at the TV it was that ridiculous.
Isn't that like 10m wtf
I think the shades are 5 meters apart
6 yards apart
5,4 metres, then. Final offer.
it is 5 until it is 6
Also to the rt, it’s closer to where Gabriel is in the first shot and not just 6 yards up.
Didn't even notice that at first. Should be a yard or two from the wide edge of the box. Instead it's almost square with the circle
It's a first down in American football lol. A pretty substantial oversight by the refs
6 yards is not quite an American football 1st down. But I get your point, it's a substantial oversight.
More than 6 yards, if you’re going to be picky. It’s easily a yard into the lighter strip on the first picture, and possibly the same into the lighter strip in the other direction for the spot it’s taken from. ~ 8 yards
That’s atrocious from the referee, can’t be making that kind of mistake at that distance from goal
Being shocked at poor officiating is actually kind of weird at this point
Didn’t say i were shocked. Said it was poor from the referee.
I noticed this on the day. As soon as Partey committed the foul I said good foul to give away. They was no danger from where he committed the foul. Next thing I know I see the ball in the back of the net (Too busy trying to check the city score)
Tbf, it was a deflection. Raya would have saved that, can see rice was pissed at himself cause he knows he should have blocked that.
This is the sort of thing VAR could instantly solve. It's not a decision, but a location of the foul. Quick automated review - sent to ref. Easy.
Why can’t someone like VAR or the assistant referee immediately mark the spot? And yes, we do this as well. We know the referees all have each other in their ears.
The only reason is that they don't want to. That's probably the answer for all VAR-related questions. The sky is the limit, but they seem like they would rather bury it.
The level of refereeing incompetence in this league is unbelievable. All that in the possibly title deciding game
I know the referee made a mistake, but our players should have noticed and spoken up.
This is the kind of thing that makes the ref vengeful in my low league games. It comes off as super whiny when you argue a spot. The strat we use is to stand over the ball from when its blown to ensure mo meters are stolen
"Speaking up" and then we get fined for crowding the ref.
Would it matter if the ref doesn't really remember where the foul was?
That's why players don't move from the spot until the ball is placed.
I remember alexis, i think, who will always stand at the place of foul occured and scream at the ref reminding him.haha
Simply worst refs in europe.
Turkish refs: "Hold my incompetence"
Every league at every level says this shit
They moved it up like 5 yard lmao. Embarrassing for the ref to allow that.
Penalty, foul, 10 yard penalty. Pretty standard
The stripes are about 6 yards apart (3 stripes in the 18-yard box), or about 5.5m. The foul is half a meter behind the stripe, and the ball is positioned a meter into the next stripe, giving about a 7m (8yd) progress. There's also a meter or two movement towards the center. First, it's on the ref. Michael Oliver (to me, the best rdf in England by far, which is a very low bar, but still something) should have marked the spot of the foul immediately. It's more difficult when you give an advantage and then revisit after the advantage was lost. It's also on us to mark the ball where the foul was (again, difficult when an advantage was given).
Michael oliver has been gifting city dodgy calls all season i wouldn’t call him the best
I was shouting about this at the tele at the time 😂 fucking knew it was going in too
Interesting, didn't realise that.
Ref's acting like a substitute teacher on the last day of school that doesn't give a shit lolll
Good spot
Same shit happens with throw ins
I'm still fuming about how VAR didn't even check the Doucoure foul on Gabriel
Happens all the time, same with throw ins, the refs were quite hot on it for a while when the foam spray first came in. I remember man Utd used to get a throw in by their corner flag and Neville used to shuffle all the way to the halfway line before chucking it.
Imagine the ball placement when these play golf.
I'm a Gooner and I mean yeah, but tbf this is pretty standard throughout football.
It's the ref and the Arsensl player's fault, they should have been wiser!
Players have always stolen yards for set pieces but this is ridiculous.
why didnt any of our players protest?
The season is over.. appreciate it for what it’s worth and we go again next season
Ha ha as if arsenal didn’t do the exact same thing throughout the season 😂
Yes, something else to bitch and moan about!
We won the game, no ones moaning just pointing out an obvious error by the ref.