Posted 06 July 2018 - 09:48 AM

The penalty conceded by Cuadrado is 101% a penalty. I find it hilarious that I have to explain it to some of you who think that if there is no tackling in the box there is nothing, but let's give it a shot.

Kane is trying to get a better position for a header. It is clear he concedes no foul to any Colombian player in this endeavour. On the contrary, Cuadrado is pulling Kane for the whole time he is running, and in the end he jumps and pushes Kane to the ground to make sure there is no way Kane gets a good position for a header. I'll tell you one thing; Cuadrado couldn't have done it more provocatively. Honestly.

The notion that the attacker has to be tackled, punched or hit in any other way in order to be awarded a penalty is erroneous. Even when the opponent pulls you out of a position for a header you should be awarded a penalty sometimes. You can't imagine how much it frustrates me when I watch football and I see a defender provocatively hugging and pulling a player from the other team so that the latter doesn't score a header and not worrying in the slightest that the referee may award a penalty. Players must realise that such playing cannot be tolerated and it should result in a penalty kick, too.

So Cuadrado's penalty was 100% justified. As was Mascherano's in the match against Nigeria and Rojo's in the match against France. And I'm saying this although Argentina was the only team I really supported in this World Cup. Believe me, it is disappointing to watch the team you support concede such a silly penalty, but it is a penalty, whether you like it or not.

I do have experience from such playing, because in the Greek Superleague such hugging and pulling in corner and foul kicks is taken for granted. This is wrong, but this league is so rigged there is no hope of that ever being given as a penalty.

