‘How is that not a penalty?!’ – Pundits, fans and Coventry have been left baffled by referee’s ‘strange’ decision in the game against Stoke.
Just before half time, Viktor Johansson came running off his line and cleaned out Coventry’s Ephron Mason-Clark, only for referee David Webb to look, look again, and ignored calls for a spot kick, leading to loud boos from fans.
Stoke boss Mark Robins, on his return to his former club, watched the replay on his screen and gave a wry smile, knowing his side dodged a bullet there.
No pen?! Yeah, okay
~ @dannymcd93 #PUSB
pic.twitter.com/jhGMETXW4V— All Things Sky Blue (@AllThingSkyBlue) March 8, 2025
That is up there with one of the worst refereeing decisions I’ve seen all season.
I am baffled right now. #PUSB | #SCFC https://t.co/bH3wfQiixi pic.twitter.com/lzLFsfUFUd
— Callum Moseley (@CallumTDUK) March 8, 2025
Pen or no pen.?#pusb #sba #sbftv #ccfc pic.twitter.com/FylUiOZLfF
— SkyBlueFansTV (@SkyBlueFansTV1) March 8, 2025
Steve Ogrizovic (Ex-Coventry City goalkeeper on BBC CWR): “I’m pretty sure if VAR was here they’d change it. The keeper doesn’t make contact with the ball. Surely it’s no other decision than a penalty. This is where you need help from your assistants. I think Stoke have got away with it.”
Michael Dawson on EFL Goal Zone on Soccer Saturday: “I can’t believe the referee missed this. He absolutely cleans him out.”
Mike Dean on EFL Goal Zone on Soccer Saturday: “He should be more switched on. He’s in a great position. It isn’t a goal kick, put it that way. He’s just taken him out. It’s a complete penalty, and probably a red card as well.”
Coventry were 2-0 up at the time of the incident, thanks to a double from Victor Torp on the 23rd and 31st minute. However Stoke got on back on the 64th minute, setting it up a nervy finish for the hosts, who felt hard done by via that controversial decision not to give a spot kick.
Stoke fans were singing “2-0 and you f*cked it up” on the 87th minute, when Gallagher levelled the scoreline, and very nearly took the lead straight after Wouter Burger attempted an audacious back-heel into the ground and it came within an inch over the bar.
‘How is that not a penalty?!’ – Pundits, fans and Coventry baffled by the referee’s ‘strange’ decision…
@AndiMorris85: Got to applaud Viktor Johansson to be fair, if he hadn’t played dead on the floor, that penalty would have been given, and he’d have been sent off! Proper shithousery. #PUSB
@ArcticDonkey: Torp is magic and should have had a hattrick with a penalty there, officials at this level are SHOCKING. Most stone all pen I’ve seen here. #PUSB
@Astr0On: Stonewall pen – ref should be punished for that decision. Torp playing well and Tats proving his doubters wrong. I would like Sheaf on for Eccles to get a bit more control in the second half. Also MVE deserves some praise for that half as well #PUSB
@TnsCov: That looked so much worse in real time that clash than it does on the replay, it’s a penalty but this ref has been weak all season to that sort of thing doesn’t give pens barely yellows anyone surprised by the call hasn’t done their research #PUSB
@maxyC91: Weak refereeing. He’s decided to not make a decision because it would have killed the game. “Ah they are 2-0 up doesn’t matter too much Poor. @SkyBluesExtra #pusb
@paulwradio: How. The HELL is that not a penalty? How?! Accidental or not the Stoke goalie’s just practically murdered Ephron Mason-Clark! #pusb
@Deanoaka: It’s up there with one of the worst refereeing decisions ever seen at the CBS that… #PUSB
@guzcaster: 
baffling refereeing. EMC totally taken out #pusb
@kajer87: How is that not a pen? Knocks the ball over the keeper and gets totally wiped out #pusb
@MattLeeBull: That’s a stonewall penalty! What has the referee seen for him not to give that? 
#PUSB
@AndiMorris85: The stoniest of stonewall penalties there for Coventry. Absolutely dismal refereeing there, and a massive let off for Stoke. #PUSB
@chris_langsford: That was to be the worst decision I have ever seen. 
#PUSB
@JSidGreer: How is that not a pen Jesus that’s shocking refereeing #pusb
@AlexBos88: Pen all day every day, mental decision #PUSB
@covjim: Pen all day long..#PUSB
@hxrry04_: standard of refs in the efl is so embarrassing #PUSB
@rundle_mick: Jaysus. Where do they get these officials? #PUSB
@UkuleleKev: What the fuck!? HOW THE FUCK HASN’T HE GIVEN THAT #PUSB #CCFC
@noiseanPUSB: That’s an absolutely horrific referee call! #PUSB
@CCFCRJ: Thats the clearest penalty ive ever seen #pusb
@SkyBlueDean: Penalty and red card all day, bewildering decision #PUSB
@MrLCP87: And another dog shit ref. Respect
#pusb
@essjayarr: What a honking decision that is. Stonewall penalty. #PUSB
@peteoconn: I’m about 120 yards away & massively biased yet it appears I’m better placed to see it’s an obvious penalty for Coventry than the bloke who is 10 yards away & does this for a living. #scfc #ccfc
@OjCCFC: 30,000 people, fuck knows how many others watching on the TV. And the only two people, the ONLY two people that can’t see it’s a penalty and a sending off…. Is the referee and the Lino!? How do these people get jobs??
@andy_cov93: How on earth is that not a penalty???
The post ‘How is that not a penalty?!’ – Pundits, fans and Coventry baffled by referee’s ‘strange’ decision appeared first on Fan Banter.
