Didn't think it was myself, VVD seemed to just use his strength to ease him out. I honesty would be surprised to see a pen given for that type of challenge. The on field ref (Mike Dean) didn't give it, the VAR (Martin Atkinson) didn't intervene. Also Dermott G. ex ref who comments on sky didn't think it was pen either. We don't get many favours from refs and I just really believe we got one here.
I think it was close enough that, had it been given, we'd not really have been able to cry foul about it. We've seen them both given and waved away.
On the other hand, who knows what a penalty is these days?
There's the rules, there's those rules that are actually applied; there's mistakes that are clear and obvious and mistakes that are but not deemed clear and obvious; handballs that are in one game but not in the next; some amazing diving from the slightest perceived contact that *is* and penalty and the occasional full-Nelson mugging that *isn't*.
On any given occasion, the exact same event can be argued to be both a penalty and not a penalty and both versions are equally valid depending on the ref's interpretation, VAR's interpretation and whoever happens to be the pundit on MOTD that day (the guys who create the narrative).
Football, eh?
