Worst Penalty Decision Ever?

Terrible call. The ref should have just told them to get up and get on with it.
Refs do make mistakes, but it's suspicous when so many are in favour of the big $$ clubs in europe.

Of course, let's all look the other way, not only with the two hand balls, but also when Agger was dragged down right in front of the goal. Now THAT was ridiculous.

What a disgrace, I didn't think Stevie was capable of that. I don't think I'll support Liverpool/Stevie again. It's not because of just that incident, but the principle.

What a very low way to save your skin, it's downright cowardly.

A lot of Liverpool fans admit Gerrard dove and the penalty was unwarranted, but say that based on the balance of play (21 shots to 6) and the fact that an earlier possible penalty in the Reds favor was not called justifies it.

Respectfully: That's a bunch of malarkey.

You don't win games on the number of shots you get on goal, but how many goals you score.
Plus, if a referee blows one call, he shouldn't blow another call to make up for it, especially at such a crucial juncture of the match.

I got nothing against Liverpool, but boy, Atletico sure was robbed yesterday. And I hope the holier-than-thou element that maintains English players don't dive was watching closely yesterday. Good as Gerrard is, he should have been wearing a swimming cap and speedo for that performance.

Kris, it happens once, its the ref fault.

it happens multiple times with the same player, hes a cheat a la ronaldo, drogba etc.

gerrard is a diving wanker.

Athletico should feel hard done by the referee's decision. Much worse has been let go especially in stoppage time of matches. However, Pernia should bear some burden. This wasn't a 50:50 ball. Gerrard beat Pernia to it and instead of simply containing Gerrard and continuing to pressure him away from goal, chose to challenge for the ball in the air. A reckless decision at best.

How exactly did Gerrard initiate the contact? Maybe it wasn't the best call, but he got to the ball before the defender.

When I see Gerrard (or other players) dive in a moment like this I call them winners not divers.

The blame can not be completely put onto Gerrard, and not solely onto the ref either. They should both face shame. I had just turned over from ITV4 (smiling as a manchester united fan) to ITV1 and saw one of the worst decisions ever.

And then the decision to book Aguerro after he shot from the kickoff. And then the STUPID commentator said 'he has no right to shoot from there, its as good as an indirect freekick' Which I'm sure many people know....is not true, you can shoot directly from a kick off.

Rarrrrr!!! O well..... Glad I'm not an Atletico fan....

Kris, I would advise you to pay closer attention to those U17, U21 and even the youth leagues. I've even seen futbol cultured U11's here in CA playing to the referees. But I think the talking point is the decision. If it's at the other end, the call isn't made. And Gerrard himself said if the same call had happened at the other end he'd be furious.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/foot...

If that isn't a tell I don't know what is.

Point #2: Gerrard is a flopper. Someone should put together the Born Slippy Gerrard video... Anyone remember the first match last season against Aston Villa? Gerrard loses the ball with a wayward backheel, grabs Petrov (who is merely standing near him) fails his hands around, looks to the ref and for a friendly MBE whistle. The freekick was superb, but the fail+appeal was deplorable but classic.

Please stop with the diver or the cheat talks!! It is the referees job to call the game it is the players job to win the game at any cost that is what they get paid for. I understand its not a manly part of the game but this is the smart decision for results. try and deceive the referee to get the call but this was all on the referee and lines man. How in the world can you call that a penalty both players in the air. Futbol has always been surrounded with controversy probably the second most controversial officiated sport in the world after boxing which is very sad because it leads many people to believe that the whole thing is a big fix and its hard to argue against that with repeated bad calls in big moments and bad calls that effect the result of the game!! It always seems to happen in champions league and world cups and major competitions. BUT I RARELY ever see it happen in Under 21 under 17 and these younger guy competitions HMMM interesting

This was ridiculous. It was obvious that he was going for ANYTHING he could get at the dying moments. And in front of the Kop. Ridiculous. I wanted to throw something.

lmao @ facepalm.
There was NO foul there whatsoever.
I mean honestly, if anyone thought it was the right call, you should just gouge your eyes out right now, since they aren't doing very much for you.

The dives in the youtube are worst than today. There's no doubt there was contact, and Stevie sells it for all its worth.

*facepalm*

gerrard has always been a diving wanker:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

this is why I hate liverpool.

Absurd. Purely absurd. I don't understand how these things can still happen.

Yes... stupid biased officiating that placed us 4th last season with no cups. Damn, I'm glad all those decisions went our way...

OMG. That was some of the worst officiating I have seen. I like Gerrard, but when he got the penalty I prayed that he would have missed. I hate biased officiating and I think it is time that UEFA and FIFA do something to minimize the problem. I know its all subjective but still, I don't think this if good for the game.

It was a make up call for the two botched non-calls for hand balls from Atletico earlier in the match.

disgraceful, perhaps. part of the game - yup. on an election day in the US where we've seen some "disgraceful" recounts and hanging chads and voter controversy over the last 8 years, it's penalties like this one that put a smile on my face - at least we have footie no matter what happens in politics. and at least we will always have poor officiating. cheers. I hope everyone voted. - a Portsmouth / M. Tel Aviv fan in Los Angeles

did you guys not post when he was showboating/time-wasting at the end of the Arsenal game last season?? and who can forget the constant picking up on Ronaldo by the English media for every little infringement ..maybe I am harsh but Gerrard should not be spared too just cause he's English..
in that Bolton incident it was not a dive by Ronaldo and neither was it a penalty

Mat, I think you're being a bit harsh on us.

I don't remember us posting anything specifically about C-Ron diving. I remember we posted about the incident against Bolton, but suggested it was a refereeing mistake rather than a Ronaldo dive.

here's a new game:
name one english commentator who has ever called Stevie a diver.

I'm just angered that we didn't get the extra 2 points that would've allowed us an instant ticket to the next round.

the ref should go home and do his best to drown himself in shame.
lets call Gerrard for what he is- a diver who is also a good player. But still a diver.

i saw this dive and was furious. that penalty should not have been given and gerard should have received a yellow card for his offense. absolutely disgraceful.

Need to focus on Gerrard more than the ref... just like you would've had it been CRonaldo... you guys would've come up with the story from "Ronaldo is a diver angle" then...let's keep it fair and neutral here...

Mat, when I watched I was focusing on the defender. But you're right. That's downright offensive.

Pretty weenie imho

Laurie .. as I mentioned to Daryl in the CLeague blog... you should also focus on Gerrard diving to get that penalty...cause if his doesn't act the ref wouldn't have given it too... he should be canned for that ...he always gets away with that...and the English speaking commentators will never admit to that...

Let's see the usual suspects bitch about biased refereeing in Serie A.

Scandalous.

The pain! Noooooooo