Worst Decision of the Week...

While the Malouda flop was egregious, the worst call of the weekend came against Fulham as a David Healy shot was carried accross the line by Boro keeper Mark Schwarzer, clearly evident above. Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez rightfully says that the poor decision cost them a point:

TV replays clearly show that Healy’s shot was gathered by Boro keeper Mark Schwarzer behind the line. Sanchez was disappointed with the officials and believes the goal should have been given.

“We obviously were (robbed of a point). As everyone could see it was a goal. There was nobody blocking the linesman’s view of it,” Sanchez told Sky Sports.

“He had to be brave and make the decision because it was well over. It’s one if those ones for the goal-line technology argument.”

Of course the FA, a day late and a quid short, chimes in to say that they will review goal-line technology but are hampered by FIFA rules:

A spokesman said: "We understand the debate around goal-line technology and it's always going to be an important talking point after these incidents.

"Fifa rules clearly state that a referee must take decisions based on what he sees on the field of play and cannot refer to video replays at any time during the game."

Why is FIFA against getting the decision right?? I know that the intent is to not slow the game down but when goals are hard to come by and team like Fulham will be fighting for points they should have the opportunity to dispute a poor decision, especially when the technology is readily available. The Premier League should take a stand and lead the change to institute replay challenges like they do in nearly every other sport

To make things worse, Fulham lost their American skipper Brian McBride for a few months with a dislocated kneecap after planting his leg for a shot on goal in which he scored -- the video below says it all -- OUCH!!

Rob Styles is a tosser...

From the AOL Sporthouse. I hadn't seen this replay yet (as I was travelling Sunday) but it was such a crap call as Malouda was clearly either dummying the ball back to Drogba or flopping like a salmon. Styles looks like a Chelski supporter to me:

If there's one thing on which Chelsea fans and Liverpool fans can agree after Sunday's big match in Anfield, it's this -- referee Rob Styles was a world-class tosser. Not only did he award Chelsea a bogus penalty, as the video above shows, but he handed out, oh, about 38 yellow cards because of player protests. I think Michael Essien got yellow-carded five times for dissent, yet still managed to stay in the game.

The Premier League? It, too, thought that penalty was bogus, and it has acted accordingly.

Referee Rob Styles will not officiate in the next Premier League round after mistakenly awarding Chelsea a penalty kick in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield. ...

Referees chief Keith Hackett said Monday that Styles will be suspended for the next round.

"It is just like with players - if they miss an open goal, they are likely to be dropped," Hackett said. "Having looked at a video and seen a better angle and a better view, clearly (Styles) now recognizes that he got it wrong and he's deeply apologetic for that. I think, in fact, he will be making contact with Liverpool in order to offer his apologies."

It's actually kind of refreshing to see a sports league not only hold a ref accountable for a bad call, but force him to write a letter of apology to the team he wronged.