Ramires had no right to a penalty when he bounced off Reid... but Marriner caved in to the Stamford Bridge pressure

Ramires had no right to a penalty when he bounced off Reid... but Marriner caved in to the Stamford Bridge pressure

First things first - it was never a penalty.
When Ramires tore into the box and decided to bounce himself off Steven Reid's body, every ref in the land should be waving it away and telling him to get up.
So, why didn't Andre Marriner do just that?

Moment of controversy: Ramires (no 7) starts to fall down after bouncing off West Brom defender Steven Reid in the dying second of the match at Stamford Bridge on Saturday

No contact: Reid holds his arms up as Ramires hits the deck after running into his body at speed

On the floor: Ramires is laid out and referee Andre Marriner buys it and awards the penalty

Well, pressure can do funny things to a referee. You can have an unblemished match but suddenly you're in injury time with Chelsea 2-1 down (and about to lose their staggering unbeaten home record in the Premier League).
The stadium is packed with tension. The players feel it, the managers feel it, the fans feel it - and as a ref, you are most certainly feeling it.
It can affect a ref's thinking - and that looks like what happened to Marriner at Stamford Bridge.

Fury: West Brom players, including goalkeeper Boaz Myhill and defender Gareth McAuley remonstrate with referee Andre Marriner after he awards the penalty

You're having a laugh! Myhill was especially annoyed about the penalty award and his mood got worse when Eden Hazard converted it

Hassle: West Brom players surround Marriner after he awards the spot kick

At that late stage of the game, he should know that Chelsea would be throwing the kitchen sink at West Brom. They would be trying every trick in the game.
And when Ramires powered into the box, Marriner should have been alert to the Brazilian looking for a penalty.
That obviously came when he feigned a push from West Brom right-back Steven Reid and tumbled to the floor.
West Brom - in particular Chris Brunt - were understandably fuming at a decision that ultimately left them with one point rather than three when Eden Hazard scored from the spot.

Riding to the rescue: Hazard celebrates his stoppage time penalty goal with Demba Ba

Marriner was surrounded by West Brom players after the decision, again at the final whistle and booed off the pitch by the furious away fans.
I'm sure he would have sat down in the dressing room afterwards and asked himself: 'What was I thinking?'
The dive came just four days after Ashley Young's theatrics in Manchester United's win at Real Sociedad.
But with Jose Mourinho coming out and backing Marriner over the decision, don't expect Chelsea's stars to be put off any time soon.

No dice: Man United's Ashley Young was widely derided for his diving theatrics in the midweek Champions League draw with Real Sociedad

GOOD WEEK... for the FA

Well done to new chairman Greg Dyke for closing the loophole that allowed Chelsea striker Fernando Torres to escape sanction after being caught on camera scratching Jan Vertonghen

BAD WEEK... West Brom

Seven bookings for the Baggies at Chelsea. They may deserve sympathy for the dodgy late penalty, but they also need to look at their discipline, too.

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