'Massive dilemma': Dermot Gallagher's verdict on Burnley's penalty appeal against Fulham
Burnley felt aggrieved not to be awarded an early penalty during their defeat to Fulham at the weekend.
With only a few minutes on the clock, Zian Flemming’s goalbound effort was clearly blocked by the arm of Fulham defender Calvin Bassey.
Referee Chris Kavanagh ignored the appeals though, while VAR checked and cleared the incident.
Speaking after the match, Burnley boss Scott Parker admitted it was “hard to fathom” why the spot kick wasn’t award.
Ex-ref Dermot Gallagher provided his view of the incident during Sky Sports’ Ref Watch panel earlier this morning.
"This is the vaguery of handball,” he said. “Bassey is falling, there’s no doubt about that. His arm is supporting his body, we all know that means it's not going to be given.
"The converse argument is that it's going into the goal, so I think it's a massive dilemma for the referee.
"Before the rule was changed, that was always going to be handball. The referee is stuck with what he's got."
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Former striker Jay Bothroyd also weighed in, suggesting Parker was right to feel aggrieved.
“They can make their job easier,” he said. “If the ball hits your arm and it's going into the goal, it's a penalty.
"Parker is absolutely right, that should be a penalty, all day long. The ball is going into the goal."
Burnley were also left frustrated towards the end of the game when Raul Jimenez converted a late penalty to complete the 3-1 scoreline, having stuttered his run-up.
But according to Gallagher, there was nothing legally wrong with the striker’s approach.
“You can't stop when you address the ball, but you can check your run-up,” he explained.
"I couldn't run up, then the keeper moves, then you roll it into the net. You can run up and stop and then run forward from a penalty.”
Bothroyd added: “I didn't know you can go forward and back. I thought you had to go in a forward motion.”
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