On December 11, local time, the Premier League officials unveiled the new season of the match whistles special program, Tottenham Hotspur to face Chelsea in the game Kessedo involved in the Sal foul scene in-depth interpretation. The incident stirred up heated debate after the match, with fans and media questioning the decision of on-duty referee Anthony Taylor.
On the show, guest Howard Webb dissected the foul in great detail. He argued that even though Caicedo's action was exaggerated and did touch Sal's leg, it did not constitute a red card offense. Webb explained that Kessedo turned to kick the ball at the moment, the ball has been kicked away by Sal, his kicking action although touching Sal's leg, but did not apply heavy pressure, nor the weight of the whole body on the front foot, so there is no harm to Sal.
Webb also pointed out that slow-motion footage can sometimes distort reality, but watching at full speed it was clear to see that Caicedo's foot returned to the field quickly and there was no sustained force applied. He felt it was a reckless foul, but not serious enough to warrant a yellow card.
This analysis provides fans and media with a clearer reference of the penalties, and at the same time highlights once again the complexity and subjectivity of penalties in soccer matches. Referees need to make precise judgments within a very short period of time, and their decisions often have a far-reaching impact on the direction of the game. Therefore, the controversy and discussion on penalties are also an indispensable element in soccer matches.
