Explosive row breaks out on BT Sport after Leeds United incident v Arsenal, Chris Sutton dubbed ‘ridiculous’
A huge row broke out on BT Sport Score on Saturday when Arsenal were awarded a first-half penalty in their 4-1 win over Leeds United at the Emirates.
Gabriel Jesus netted from the spot after a challenge from Luke Ayling brought the Brazilian forward down.
Ayling went down to the ground to try and block Jesus from taking a shot or a cross but once he was on the ground, he stuck up a foot and he clipped the Arsenal forward’s knee.
Robbie Savage and Chris Sutton firmly believed that it was a penalty, as well as the other BT Sport panellists.
But former Partick and Motherwell defender Stephen Craigan wasn’t having it, suggesting that Jesus conned the referee.
Speaking on BT Sport Score on Saturday (1 April, 3:33pm), Craigan said: “His movement’s awful, though. He takes a slight touch to his left knee and he throws himself forward as if he’s going into a swimming pool.”
Savage replied: “It’s a penalty, Craigs.”
Craigan wasn’t happy and said: “But just look at his reaction and how far he dives forward.”
Savage then said: “It’s a stonewaller.”
Rachel Brown-Finnis chipped in to say: “It’s a penalty, 100 per cent.”
Savage said: “Come on, Craigs.”
Craigan continued his rant, trying to speak over Savage and host Jules Breach, adding: “He absolutely over-exaggerates the movement.”
Sutton then exploded the row further, saying: “I know in Northern Ireland there are different rules regarding football.”
Ex-Northern Ireland international Craigan said: “That’s ridiculous.
“Too bad he never fell like that because I’d have kicked him on the ground as well – which would have been enjoyable, of course.”
Definite penalty
While we agree the contact was soft and Jesus did make the most of it, it was a penalty.
Jesus had to go down. Why? Because referees are less likely to spot the contact and think it’s a penalty unless a player hits the deck.
This is an issue that referees across the world have made themselves by failing to blow up for fouls when a player doesn’t go down.
It means that nowadays, players have to show that there is contact by whatever means necessary.
Jesus was showing that there was contact. He was showing the referee that he was fouled and that Arsenal should have been awarded a penalty.
Either way, the stupidity of Ayling is what needs talking about here because not only did the Leeds right-back make himself a sitting duck by going to ground to block a non-existent cross. But he also raised his leg on purpose once he went to ground to make contact with Jesus.
Idiotic defending.
In other Leeds United news, the club are ready to offer a new contract to one first-team star whose deal is up in 2024.
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