Phil Foden in the Premier League: "Where's the incentive to stay on your feet?"

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Foul on Phil Foden - without consequences

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A scene from the Premier League game between Manchester City and Southampton on Wednesday evening rekindled the debate over the video referee VAR in England.

Center stage: City midfielder Phil Foden, Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy and referee Jonathan Moss.

That happened: In a back pass, the ball had bounced too far off the foot of the keeper McCarthy, Foden hit him and captured the ball - McCarthy hit the 20-year-old in the ankle.

And then?

Fall, penalty - clear thing?

No.

Because Foden did not fall, but stumbled, but remained on his feet.

But he could no longer score a goal like this.

The referee made no move to give a penalty kick.

The situation was then briefly checked by the VAR - but the decision remained.

The decision aroused incomprehension - and raised the question of what conclusions footballers should draw from this scene: Do you have to fall down immediately after every contact in the future, otherwise your chances of penalties will dwindle?

“Referees are professional, they have to do their job,” said City coach Pep Guardiola after the game: “The decision was incredible.

I do not get it.

Perhaps one day they will explain the rules of the VAR to us. "

Foden himself made it clear that he thought the decision was wrong.

“I'm an honest guy and don't like swallows.

I tried to stay on my feet.

It was one hundred percent a penalty.

I don't know what happened there. "

He got help from Everton player James Maddison: Being honest and trying to score again immediately will be punished.

“Because if he'd stayed down after the first contact, rolled around and screamed, I'm almost certain he would have gotten a penalty.

Where is the incentive to stay on your feet? "

The scene was not decisive for the game: City won the game 5: 2 (3: 1).

National player Ilkay Gündogan and double goal scorers Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez scored for City, James Ward-Prowse and Che Adams for Southhampton.

With one more game, City's lead over local rivals Manchester United is now 15 points.

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bka / Reuters