Just curious...was the free kick actually a penalty?

[Burt]

When the scores were level, in the second half, and one of our players was flattened in the box and the ref gave a free kick outside the box. Was that the right decision? It's not covered on the club's highlights and I didn't catch MOTD last night...

[Matt Inglis]

I've got to admit when everyone was fuming at the ref I sat back and said I was pretty sure the referee got it spot on.
I was dead wrong, definite penalty.

[BestOfBrede]

The ref got it right - the initial foul (trip) was outside the box, unfortunately.

[Rupert]

At the time I thought the ref was right, having seen the highlights it could have gone either way, so I don't think we can complain about it. We'd probably have been a bit upset if we had something like that awarded against us.

[FFC1987]

It was a penalty but the margin was so slight you can't really blame the officials...plus it didn't really matter at the end of the day. If we had a Utd Moyes scenario I might be behaving differently!!!

[FFCAli]

At the time I thought the ref was right, having seen the highlights it could have gone either way, so I don't think we can complain about it. We'd probably have been a bit upset if we had something like that awarded against us.

:plus one: 

[Lighthouse]

Had the penalty been given I am not sure there would have been much argument against it. It was one of those days that the luck wasn't going for us but luckily it wasn't all on Spams side either.

[cmg]

Yes - there was a little pull-back just outside the box followed by a fairly blatant trip inside. You could argue that he should have played advantage on the shirt pull - but was always likely to opt for the 'softer' decision.

[ToodlesMcToot]

It was a bang bang play (shirt pull outside the box, trip inside). The call was the fair one IMO. I'd say it would go that way the vast majority of the time.

Absolutely it was a penalty had the aggrieved been Man United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City, or Arsenal.

[rusty shackleford]

Not a pen for me

[leonffc]

They covered it better on Sky and said that it was the correct decision.
I'm not so sure. Yes Rat touched Duffs shoulder outside but hardly pulled him back. The actual foul was inside IMO.

[nose]

I have watched the MOTD highlights a few times now and I was sure it was a penalty at the game, and I am even more sure now, it was a no brainer for me.
I think the ref was a little forgiving with some challenges because of the conditions and maybe this was one such, but when i see what are given as penalties in some other games this was as clear as any.
In the end we won so not the end of the world but I do think the issue of where the first contact is made is fairly irrlevant, if the ref decides to let play go on for a bit and the second contact is inside the box then isn't that choosing when to stop applying the advantage rule. Just my opinion.

Oh and that is the first time I have seen Nolan get his just reward after all the discpicable things I have seen him do over the years!

[ffcbulgaria]

lets discuss that moment where Senderos got studmarks on his knee and the referee gave WH a free kick...

[nose]

lets discuss that moment where Senderos got studmarks on his knee and the referee gave WH a free kick...

oh yes we were right by that...what a bizarre decision. sendeross was clearly the aggrieved and yet klattenburg gave it the other way... you are right to point this one out.

[Kent Cassandra]

From my point of view (right in line in the JH stand) both players were leaning forward and although feet might  (Split second) have been outside the box, Duff's body and arms were definitely inside.
Can anybody tell me what the rules state about that situation. 

[bobby01]

From my point of view (right in line in the JH stand) both players were leaning forward and although feet might  (Split second) have been outside the box, Duff's body and arms were definitely inside.
Can anybody tell me what the rules state about that situation. 

The rules state if you are one of the big four it's a penalty, but otherwise it's not.

[filham]

I was in the JH stand almost in line with the foul and Duffy finished up well inside the box but of course on that wet surface he had slid a few meters after the tackle so we really needed an action replay to be sure. Of course at the time our instincts told us it was a clear penalty but the television pictures do suggest a close call and we all know that close call don,t go our way.

[Fulham_Surrey]

as MOTD concluded, clear penalty.