Romelu Lukaku was silly.
Mark Clattenburg was said to have advised NBC that the incident where the Belgian seemed to kick out Gaetan Bong should’ve been a Brighton free kick and a yellow card for the striker. What you would write down in your book as the yellow card offence, God only knows.
It’s clear that, had it been caught, Lukaku should’ve been in line for a straight sending off and he probably would’ve stopped the only goal of the game from being allowed.
But on Goals on Sunday, Chris Kamara pointed out an infringement on Lukaku that wasn’t picked up.
You might remember that Mike Dean got a lot of flak when this rule was brought in – mostly because he was enforcing it. Defenders are not allowed to be holding attackers during set pieces and vice versa and officials were seen to be cracking down on it, Dean more than most.
If it seemed harsh or innocuous, a penalty was still given for grappling in the box and that is the only way to properly weed it out of the game. It’s started to slip back in though and Romelu Lukaku was victim of it on Saturday.
“Every single United player is marked this tight. In fact, some of them too tight,” Kamara said as he grapples with Ben Shepherd.
“There are two of their players there who are too tight. Bong on Lukaku and Bruno on Martial, they’re holding onto them so they run the risk of the referee spotting that and giving away a penalty.”
So, before the goal deflects in, Lukaku kicks out which should’ve ruled out the goal. But, before Lukaku kicks out, he’s held in the box which should’ve ruled out the reaction.
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