Michael Owen was rightly aggrieved for countryman Raheem Sterling when the speedy attacker wasn’t given a PK against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
Kyle Walker shoved Man City’s Sterling on a second-half breakaway, but a stumbling Sterling still poked the ball at Hugo Lloris.
It was 2-2 moments later, Top Four fortunes shifted by a non-call. Owen hates diving, but took to Twitter after the game to explain how refs think in those situations (or at least how one reacted in a World Cup match).
Oddly enough, Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino plays a role in the nearly 15-year-old story.
People always quick to criticise when players go down. That incident with Sterling proves why they do it. And it has cost City the game.
— Michael Owen (@themichaelowen) January 21, 2017
Refs need courage to give a Red Card and a Penalty but if Sterling goes down, it makes it an easy decision. No justice for being honest.
— Michael Owen (@themichaelowen) January 21, 2017
And that's why many refs prefer it if a player goes to ground as it makes the decision easier for them.
— Michael Owen (@themichaelowen) January 21, 2017
To complete my rant:
— Michael Owen (@themichaelowen) January 21, 2017
I played Argentina in the 2002 World Cup. Got fouled, stayed on my feet. Shouted to Collina (best ref in the world)
that it was a penalty. His response: "come on Michael, I can't give it unless you go down". Five mins later, Pochettino trips me.
— Michael Owen (@themichaelowen) January 21, 2017
I go down. He gives a penalty. People can cry about going down easily all they like but unless players go down they rarely get the decision.
— Michael Owen (@themichaelowen) January 21, 2017
And that is not condoning diving. I'm totally against it. If you are in any doubt, just watch that Sterling incident and it proves my point.
— Michael Owen (@themichaelowen) January 21, 2017
