Abby Brammell

By Graham Poll

1. Sol Campbell touches the ball back to his goalkeeper. Fabianski instinctively picks the ball up, leaving referee Hansson no alternative but to award an indirect free-kick


Technically, there is nothing wrong with the goal, nor the actions of the referee Martin Hansson. There has clearly been a transgression of law with Sol Campbell's backpass and, once the referee has awarded the free-kick, the rule is that advantage is immediately given back to the team who have been wronged.

In the spirit of the law, it can be argued that the defending team should be given an opportunity to regroup before the kick is taken, but that responsibility falls to the players.

Fabianski could have held on to the ball or thrown it away - as we see so often - thus risking a yellow card but ensuring that Porto would not be able to take a quick free-kick. As for the role of the Porto players, how many times did we see Thierry Henry take a quick free-kick during his Arsenal days under Arsene Wenger?

Most memorably, in an FA Cup tie against Chelsea - and we didn't hear his manager complaining then.It could perhaps be argued that Hansson's positioning prevents Sol Campbell from making an attempt to get back, but that doesn't make the referee wrong.

West Ham and Chelsea fans will remember a similar situation involving myself in a Premier League match some years ago, when I was standing between the ball and West Ham's goal, and then stepped aside to allow Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to take a quick free-kick, which flew past David James into the net. Looking back at it, I admit that my positioning could have been better but, in this case, Hansson hasn't blocked the view of the Arsenal goalkeeper and, by, asking for Fabianski to hand the ball back, cannot be accused of taking the Gunners by surprise.


2. Ruben Micael attempts to wrestle the ball from Fabianski, who initially holds on to it, but as Hansson arrives at the scene of the offence, the keeper tosses the ball to the referee



3. Fabianski turns his back to retreat to his goal, while at the same time appearing to protest his innocence to the assistant on the far side. The goalkeeper must be aware that, having handed over the ball, Porto are permitted to take their free-kick immediately, which Ruben does.


4. Ruben places the ball and passes square to the onrushing Falcao. Sol Campbell, spotting the danger, makes a late attempt to get behind the ball but is blocked by the referee. Arsenal’s other defenders still have not retreated behind the ball and Falcao has a clear run at the ball and shot on goal.


5. Falcao strokes the ball into the net just as Fabianski finally turns to face the ball. Of the Arsenal defenders, only Vermaelen reacts in an attempt to prevent Porto scoring. The referee is confronted by Arsenal players and Arsene Wenger but he is unmoved by the protest and allows the goal to stand.


source: dailymail