Graham Poll: Ref's common sense should have prevailed at Wembley

10 August 2009 01:59
Referee Chris Foy could have saved himself a big problem by using common sense in Sunday's Community Shield. It's what players, managers and fans always demand - but mandatory cautions and FIFA directives often make that impossible. Foy was correct to play an advantage as the ball fell nicely for Wayne Rooney to continue an attack after a blatant block by Michael Ballack on Patrice Evra.  However, with Evra still down following the German's challenge, Foy could and should have stopped play for the Frenchman to have his injury assessed and, probably, cautioned Ballack,too.  Observers could question the defending as Chelsea broke to go 2-1 up. United's experienced players should have played to the whistle, but with a defender taken out of play by foul means, a legal stoppage in play by Foy would have avoided a controversial incident.  

Source: Daily_Mail