You are the Ref No370: Alexis Sánchez

Click to enlarge, and debate the strip below the line.

Keith Hackett’s verdict

1) Assuming the throw wasn’t unduly hard or intended to cause injury, the attacker hasn’t committed any offence here, so award the goal. As for the defender: he didn’t actually delay the restart, so he avoids a booking this time. But have a word: warn him that if he does this again he’ll be cautioned. The laws require him to be at least two metres away from the point at which the ball is thrown, and he must know that. Thanks to Andy McEwan.
2) You and your assistants are considered part of the field of play – so any collision like this is considered a “play on” situation, especially when it is accidental. As for the offside call – as always, you can only base your decisions on what you and your colleagues have seen. You cannot disallow a goal based on a hunch and your assistant was in no position to contribute. So award the goal and check your colleague is OK. Thanks to Ryszard Kaleta.
3) It’s too late for that. This is poor officiating – you should always delay a decision in cases like this. But having blown the whistle you now have to follow through and award the penalty, then decide whether or not to send the keeper off. Technically, he did not deny a goalscoring opportunity because the ball rolled into the net, and only your poor refereeing stopped it being awarded. But, having awarded the penalty – meaning the game stopped when the foul was committed – I would say you do now need to dismiss him. It’s a self-inflicted mess. Kumail Jaffer wins the shirt.

You are the Ref No369: Kevin De Bruyne

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