Latest news with #refereeing
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Harris claims 'game's gone' as he feels ref cost Cambridge against Town
Cambridge United boss Neil Harris said that the 'game's gone' after being frustrated by refereeing decisions in the 3-2 defeat to Swindon Town. Swindon got their first win of the season on Saturday as goals from Aaron Drinan, Harry Smith, and Darren Oldaker proved to be enough to see off The U's. After the game, Harris was very annoyed with various decisions from the referee, which he believed cost his team opportunities to score. He said: 'There was so much good with the performance; what's bad is the result and conceding three really poor goals. 'And then the referee's performance was probably as bad as those two points lost. I have been to see him already. 'Sullay Kaikai has got a one-on-one, and he has stopped the game. I suppose that is League Two, but he needs to be questioned for that from the powers that be, certainly. 'The rule at the end, what is that all about? We get a corner and they give a free kick to the goalkeeper, who was not even involved with the lad lying on the floor, who then gets up. 'The game's gone. The game's absolutely gone in that aspect. It is so soft that it is embarrassing. 'The referee, all he has to do in two instances, is play for a millisecond longer, and we might score in the first one and in the second, we have a chance to score. 'I got an apology on both fronts. The second one, I get he has to be careful with a head injury, but the game's gone. It is a joke nowadays; the game and the players are so soft. 'Just play on, the lad is alright, he gets up off the floor. I am all for safety first, but the referee has to manage that situation; it is his job to manage the game, and he has let us down badly by not letting us play on for a fifth of a second longer in both instances.' Read more: Holloway 'bamboozled' as Smith defies injury to score against Cambridge Swindon on the verge of landing Championship striker on loan Who was electric and who is the bay leaf? Swindon players rated Harris praised the attacking qualities of Swindon, but was still furious with his team for how they conceded. He said: 'It really hurt me because we scored two good goals and had lots of opportunities with the ball in the box, but to concede the three goals like we did is really poor. 'We shot ourselves in the foot against, let's be honest, a really good attacking side that has ability at the top end of the pitch, but we gave them a leg up.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Officially lost the plot': Premiership winners level damning accusation against NRL
Jamie Soward has led a chorus of criticism against the state of some of the modern rules in the NRL, taking exception to incidents in two games on Saturday. Controversy erupted in both the Dragons v Sharks and Roosters v Dolphins games over refereeing decisions that had fans and commentators shaking their heads. The first occurred when Cronulla were awarded a penalty try when the Bunker official ruled that Tyrell Sloan tackled Teig Wilton in the air and prevented him from scoring. Sloan leapt to try and catch the ball, and ended up holding Wilton up over the line when the Sharks winger came down with it. But the Bunker official ruled the Dragons winger deliberately switched from trying to catch the ball to tackling Wilton in the air, which would have been extremely difficult in a split-second. The call to award a penalty try went against the precedent set all year, in which similar incidents have drawn penalties or sin-bins but never a penalty try. Taking to social media, Dragons premiership winner Soward declared the NRL and it's officials have "officially lost the plot". He wrote: "WHAT A JOKE. No contact on kickers. No contest in the air. What are we doing?" In commentary for Fox League, legendary premiership winners Kevin Walters and Steve Roach were both dumbfounded. "Come on. That is breaking new ground now," Walters said in relation to the ruling. Roach added: "That is a ridiculous try being awarded there. That is terrible. It wasn't dangerous. One of the great things about our game is not only those who score the tries, but the blokes who can stop them." Dragons coach Shane Flanagan was exasperated despite his team scoring a 22-14 victory. "I'll have a busy day on Monday (speaking to the NRL) because it's making it so hard on us," he said after the game. "I won't say any more on it, but I was really disappointed with a lot of decisions." Sin-binnings cause controversy in Roosters-Dolphins game Unfortunately for the NRL it wasn't the only drama to come out of Saturday's games. There was also controversy when two players from each team were sin-binned early in the Roosters' 64-12 thrashing of the Dolphins. Roosters prop Spencer Leniu sparked a melee when he squared up as if to fight Aublix Tawha after his side's second try. Leniu and Tawha were sent to the bin for 10 minutes, as were Naufahu Whyte of the Roosters and Francis Molo of the Dolphins. RELATED: Raiders rocked as young Canberra star signs with Penrith Panthers Jett Cleary could be handed NRL debut in stunning development Speaking after the game, Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf questioned why any of his players were binned. 'A couple of minutes before that we had a very slightly high tackle and blokes run in everywhere to get a penalty," he said. 'I don't get how we're allowed to do that. And the opposition score, two of their players come over with pushing, we're standing in the dead-ball area, two guys come over pushing and shoving and shaping up. I don't know what our blokes are supposed to do, so I just can't understand those sin-binnings at all.' Referee Gerard Sutton had warned both captains just before the incident that players would be binned for running in. Roosters coach Trent Robinson agreed that "four off was a lot" of players to bin. 'It seemed like possibly one from each side would have been enough because nothing really happened," he added. Soward was once again left fuming, declaring the four sin-binnings changed the complexion of what had been a brilliant start to the game. "Not one punch thrown," he wrote. "2 desperate teams with the season on the line. Surely we have to expect some intensity in the game. That is a joke. 4 players in the bin. Seriously we have lost the plot." We have officially lost the plot on the tackled in the air. WHAT A JOKE No contact on contest in the are we doing? — Jamie Soward (@sowwowofficial6) August 9, 2025 Not one punch thrown. 2 desperate teams with the season on the line. Surely we have to expect some intensity in the game. That is a joke. 4 players in the bin. Seriously we have lost the plot. — Jamie Soward (@sowwowofficial6) August 9, 2025
Daily Mail
30-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Lions star Dan Sheehan talks through his diving try in second Test win over Australia and admits 'getting melted' led to his quick thinking
Dan Sheehan found himself dragged into Australian protests about refereeing after the Lions win in Melbourne, but the prolific hooker believes he found a legitimate way to score yet another try – and stay out of harm's way. The British and Irish tourists' escape to series victory at the MCG last Saturday was ignited when the 26-year-old Irishman launched himself over two advancing defenders to touch down from a close-range penalty. In the aftermath of the Lions' dramatic, decisive 29-26 triumph in the second Test, Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt raised doubts about the legality of Sheehan's strike, on the basis that players are not allowed to jump over tackles. While the debate about this was over-shadowed by the row over Jac Morgan's contentious late ruck clear-out on Carlo Tizzano, Australia were aggrieved that the Sheehan try was allowed to stand. Now, the word-class Leinster forward, who has scored 15 times in 32 Tests for his country, has offered his own take on the incident – arguing that diving finishes are allowed and that he had tried a different approach and suffered a painful fate. 'I took the first one (tap penalty) and I got absolutely melted trying to go low,' he said. 'Usually, one lad goes low and someone maybe is high and I just got both shoulders melted low and I didn't really get much out of it. Then the second one I just thought, 'If I have a dive here...' I didn't know if they had anyone in the back. It was just a throw-and-hope and I slipped through. 'Yeah, I can see all the controversy about it, but I did know that you can dive in the air if you score. I'm not sure, actually, if I missed the line, would it be a penalty or not? I feel like I was at full stretch and landed over the line so why not?' Sheehan, who also touched down in the first Test win in Brisbane, hadn't even anticipated that the tactic would work, adding: 'The play was trying to get as close to the line as possible for the second phase. I just thought in my head I got melted in the first one and didn't get much out of it, that there has to be a bit of an opportunity over the top. It would have been a penalty as well probably if they caught me high. It's a tough job in professional rugby! 'It's obviously a massive part of why I enjoy rugby, scoring tries and all that sort of stuff. I'll take all the tries that can come my way and I enjoy the attacking side of rugby and trying to figure out defences and set-piece moves. It's definitely something I focus on during a game.' Sheehan was a helpless observer from the bench at the end of the second Test, as the Lions sealed a comeback win courtesy of a try by his Leinster and Ireland team-mate, Hugo Keenan. What followed was an epic celebration which lasted a couple of blurry, 'brilliant' days, to create 'memories which will last a lifetime'. But now, the Lions are back in business mode. The series is in the bag but they want more – the target from the out-set has been a clean sweep. They know they can play far better than they did in Melbourne and that knowledge will aid their quest to seal a whitewash on Saturday. 'We had some good meetings, being honest about what we're trying to achieve here, which is what we said at the start – to win 3-0,' said Sheehan. 'So, I think it would be disappointing if we didn't show up on Saturday. We've always been pretty clear on our goals. At the start of the campaign, it was to go unbeaten overseas and win the series 3-0. So, we just need to stick to what we said. 'There's a lot of people who've put a lot of effort into travelling out for this game and obviously a lot of our families will be here, so I think there's plenty of motivation on the line and I can only imagine what the Australians are feeling now as well. So, we need to make sure that we show up and are aiming to win a third Test.' Ireland's supreme front-row talent – widely regarded as the best hooker in the world at present – has relished this epic mission Down Under, enthusiastically describing it as 'absolute mental'. That is a reflection of the intense schedule and the mass support from the fabled Red Army, and also the squad bonding which has taken place, allowing entrenched national rivalries to be broken down. For his part, Sheehan has savoured forming connections with a number of the England contingent, including men he usually goes head-to-head with. 'I've really enjoyed getting to know Dickie (Luke Cowan-Dickie) and Jamie George; two people I've obviously come up against a few times, but also looked up to when I was in my school days,' he said. 'It's been really nice to get to know them. 'Then there are a few lads your own age that you've sort of come up through age-grades like Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl who have been a great craic around it. Seeing different sides of people where you're not hating them all the time – it's pretty… not surprising, but, you know, you're kind of growing up hating these lads, then all of a sudden, you're like, everyone's a pretty good fella. 'You couldn't say a bad word against anyone in the group, which has been brilliant. Hopefully, we can carry those connections on somehow, to the Six Nations, but I don't know.' Asked if it would be easy to revert to hating the other home nations again, he joked: 'When you pull back on an Irish jersey, it won't be too hard!' However, Sheehan has seen the likes of Tadhg Furlong form long-term friendships on past Lions tours and he added: 'It'll be nice to then share a beer with these lads. 'I've seen it with lads who've built connections with people over the years and I always kind of wondered what that would be like. That's something to look forward to, I suppose.'
Yahoo
27-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
🗣️ MLS refs issue response to Cincinnati's disallowed goal vs Inter Miami
There was plenty of refereeing controversy in the highly anticipated MLS showdown between FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami Saturday evening. Miami felt aggrieved over not being awarded a penalty in the second-half when Fafà Picault was taken down in the box. Yet the visitors from Cincinnati were equally dismayed when a stoppage-time Miles Robinson game-winning goal was disallowed for what some perceive to be a soft foul on Noah Allen. Both sets of players remonstrated with the referee after the match, with plenty of fans online making the case that Cincinnati should have been awarded the dramatic game-winning goal. After the match in South Florida Saturday evening, PRO — the MLS referees organization — issued a response to reporters backing up their decision to rule out the goal. "The referee observed a foul committed by #12 Miles Robinson of FC Cincinnati against #32 Noah Allen of Inter Miami, making clear contact with the face," the statement read. "The referee delayed the whistle the allow the opportunity for VAR to review for a possible goal. After a VAR check, the referee's decision was confirmed." Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan remained level-headed in his response after the goalless draw, but nonetheless confirmed that he believed the goal should have stood. A win would have seen Cincinnati remain in first place in the Eastern Conference and the Supporters' Shield race. Having dropped points, Noonan's side slipped into second to finish the weekend. 📸 Carmen Mandato - 2025 Getty Images
ABC News
26-07-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Wallabies fuming after refereeing decision in 29-26 loss to British and Irish Lions in second Test
A furious Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt feels his side was the victim of an unfair refereeing decision during a dramatic final minute of their 29-26 defeat to the British and Irish Lions in the second Test at the MCG. In the shadows of full-time and in front of 90,307 spectators, reserve Lions back-rower Jac Morgan cleared out Wallabies counterpart Carlo Tizzano at a ruck, a phase before the tourists scored a try through fullback Hugo Keenan. Keenan's try, with only 50 seconds left on the clock, clinched victory and gave the Lions an unassailable 2-0 series lead. Morgan appeared to make contact with Tizzano's neck, triggering Wallabies captain Harry Wilson — whose side was leading 26-24 at the time of the incident — to plead with referee Andrea Piardi to review the play. Wilson believed it was an illegal clear-out from Morgan when Tizzano was attempting to pilfer the ball after the Lions' James Ryan was tackled five metres out from the Wallabies' goal line. Following consultation with television match official Eric Gauzins, Piardi ruled Tizzano and Morgan arrived at the ruck at "the same time" but there was "no foul play", meaning the try stood. Sitting alongside a shattered Wilson at their post-match media conference, Schmidt claimed Morgan's actions were a violation of World Rugby's laws relating to dangerous play at a ruck. Schmidt pointed to law 9.20, the crux of which states a "player must not make contact with an opponent above the line of the shoulders". "I think everyone can make their own decision on that," Schmidt said. "You just have to read law 9.20 and I guess you just have to listen to the description from the referee and then watch the vision. "When two players are described as arriving at the same time — just watch the footage." Schmidt said he could understand match officials making errors "because they're human". But he believed Piardi's interpretation of the incident contradicted World Rugby's well-publicised edict on player safety. "Our perspective is we felt it was a decision that doesn't really live up to the big player safety push that they're [World Rugby] talking about," Schmidt said. "You cannot hit someone above the level of the shoulders and there's no bind with the left arm [from Morgan]. The hand is on the ground. "That's what we've seen and we've watched a number of replays from different angles, so it is what it is. "We just have to accept it." Wilson said the incident warranted a penalty, which would have meant Keenan's try was disallowed. "Obviously I saw shoulder to the neck," Wilson said. "Carlo was pretty sore after it and he was straight down, so I went to him [Piardi] about that and got told since he [Morgan] wrapped his arms [around Tizzano], it was all good to be in the neck." Schmidt said the Wallabies were "gutted" but he was "immensely proud" of their effort, having led for almost the entire match. Not surprisingly, triumphant Lions coach Andy Farrell saw the incident differently to Schmidt. Farrell felt Morgan's clear-out was legal. "I thought it was a good clear-out live," he said. "I couldn't understand what he [Piardi] was going back for. They seem to go back for everything these days, don't they? "But I'm so pleased the referee held his nerve." When Wilson was remonstrating with Piardi, Lions captain Maro Itoje rushed in to confront the Wallabies skipper. Itoje agreed with Farrell's assessment of Morgan's clear-out. "Naturally, their captain was trying to get their point across and trying — in my view — argue for something that didn't happen," Itoje said. "I guess I was arguing for something that did happen. "Fortunately, Jac was accurate with what he was doing and everything was fine." Lions fly-half Finn Russell was in the vicinity of the ruck when Morgan made contact with Tizzano. "They [Wallabies] had boys over the ball and Jac just cleared them out … it was a hard clear-out, that's all it is," Russell said. "I think he [Tizzano] obviously popped up holding his head as if it's illegal, which it wasn't." The Lions tour will wrap up in Sydney next Saturday night with the third Test at Stadium Australia. The Wallabies had lost the series opener in Brisbane last weekend, going down 27-19 to the Lions.
