Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Cundy faces the wrath of fellow talkSPORT hosts as he defends controversial penalty

talksport.com, 16 December 2021, 00:07
Jason Cundy has faced the wrath of his fellow talkSPORT hosts by defending Anthony Taylor's decision to give a penalty and second yellow card to Vladimir Coufal in Arsenal's 2-0 win over West Ham.

The Gunners ended up with an imprssive victory on the night thanks to goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe, which saw them leapfrog the Hammers into fourth place in the Premier League table.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had been stripped of the Arsenal captaincy by manager Mikel Arteta following multiple disciplinary breaches and Alexandre Lacazette took the armband against West Ham.

The Frenchman put in a decent all-round display to lead his side to victory, but a huge moment of controversy came when he was taken down in the West Ham box by Coufal with just over 20 minutes to play.

Taylor awarded a penalty with the Gunners already 1-0 up, and gave Coufal a second yellow card, without checking his pitchside monitor.

talkSPORT commentator and former Hammers striker Dean Ashton complimented the tackle at first glance, and was left shocked when Taylor refused to change his decision.

Lacazette stepped up to miss the resulting penalty, but Arsenal later made their man advantage pay when Smith Rowe put the game to bed.

Cundy initially missed the incident, but was left amazed when he finally cast his eye on the supposedly controversial call.

"West Ham fans, they're going crazy in there 'it's a disgrace' I'm like 'oh god what's happened here, what's Taylor done this time'," Cundy said.

"And then I see it, I was listening to Dean Ashton, I thought I was going to see one of the worst decisions I've ever seen in my life, I'm sorry but he does not get enough of the ball."

Fellow Sports Bar host Dean Saunders left Cundy all alone in his assessment though, comparing it to the questionable decision making in the Formula One season finale.

"That decision is up there with Michael Masi, Formula One," Saunders said. "That is the worst decision, I just can't believe you can give a penalty for that."

"Well don't take the man out in the box, I'm sorry he gets more man than he does ball," Cundy replied.

"If that's a penalty, football's finished," Saunders said emphatically.

"Well my initial thoughts were what a fantastic challenge that was from Coufal," Ashton said. "And it was! I mean he does get the ball, yes he gets a bit of Lacazette.

"It's a great challenge, there's absolutely no way that is a penalty or a sending off.

"It's funny that how one minute [Lacazette is] writing in agony, smacking his fist against the floor, and the next minute he's got himself up and he can take the penalty.

"It was a great challenge from Coufal, and that clearly nowadays is not allowed in the Premier League, a tackle where you get some of the ball and part of the attacker, that is a shame to say that."

Cundy wasn't only left high and dry by colleagues Saunders and Ashton, but also Adrian Durham and Jamie O'Hara who were also clearly shocked by the referee's call.

"Jason Cundy has officially lost his mind on Sports Bar," Durham said.

"Did he ever have one Ade?" O'Hara replied.

Top News

21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City officially announce that manager Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year contract extension. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Girona will be bidding to make it three straight wins in La Liga for the first time this season when they welcome Espanyol to Estadi Montilivi on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk An in-form Las Palmas will be aiming to make it five wins from their last six matches in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign at home to Mallorca on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Following four straight defeats leading into the international break, Aston Villa will return to action on Saturday, when Crystal Palace pay a visit to Villa Park. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Saudi Pro League action will return to the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium this weekend when Al Khaleej play host to the defending champions Al-Hilal on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Madrid will be aiming to make it five straight wins in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign against Alaves at Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Robert Lewandowski is a mesmerising goal scorer, but it turns out that's not his only talent. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace may be without two of their key creators when they kick off on Saturday afternoon, as an ailing Premier League campaign resumes away to Aston Villa. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell has reportedly caught the eye of Serie A clubs Juventus and Napoli. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid are reportedly interested in Manchester United midfielder Casemiro, with Los Blancos considering making an attempt to bring the Brazilian back to Bernabeu in January. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Pep Guardiola deciding to extend his stay at Manchester City could be good news for them in more than one sense. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo admitted there will be one key challenge to his son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, becoming a professional footballer. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Caoimhin Kelleher has the opportunity to become Chelsea's starting goalkeeper - he's too good to be Liverpool's back-up. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers could be without up to seven players for Saturday's Premier League clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Marco Silva will be working with almost a fully-fit squad when his Fulham side play host to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Al Ettifaq chiefs admitted they were left in shock when Jordan Henderson told them he wanted to leave just months into joining the Saudi Pro League club. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers will be looking to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone when they travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Valencia will play their first game since the devastating DANA storm struck the region when they welcome Real Betis to Mestalla for Saturday's La Liga contest. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides that were glad to see international football intervene will return from a much-needed break on Saturday, as Aston Villa and Crystal Palace meet at Villa Park. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk St Johnstone host Kilmarnock this weekend at McDiarmid Park, in a clash between two struggling Scottish Premiership sides. 21 November 2024 talksport.com It would take a lot to humiliate Cole Palmer on a football pitch, but he's revealed what would need to happen to do so. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Iago Aspas is once again expected to start, as Celta Vigo continue their 2024-25 La Liga campaign with a contest against division leaders Barcelona on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are set to again be without the services of a number of important players for Saturday's La Liga clash with Celta Vigo, including Lamine Yamal, with the Spaniard not yet recovering from an ankle problem. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams at opposite ends of the League One table meet on Saturday, as Burton Albion host Stockport County at the Pirelli Stadium. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo's YouTube video with Mr Beast hit one million views in just 30 minutes. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion, Ipswich Town and Southampton are all reportedly interested in signing Vasco da Gama youngster Rayan. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk La Liga leaders Barcelona will be bidding to bounce back from a surprise defeat before the November international break when they resume their league campaign away to Celta Vigo on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Arsenal need a figure up front like Alexander Isak to replace Kai Havertz. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic, looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership season, are set to travel to Tynecastle Park to face relegation-threatened Hearts on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Ruben Amorim will take charge of his first game as Manchester United manager this weekend as his side take on Ipswich.
Sat 23 Nov, 14:00
A
Verona Verona
-
sch
Inter Inter
Sat 23 Nov, 20:00
L1
Reims Reims
-
sch
Lyon Lyon