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National List referee Simon Hooper endured a tough Premier League debut on Saturday as Crystal Palace defeated Norwich 3-1 at Carrow Road. Hooper denied the canaries a late penalty, but the game's main talking point was Cameron Jerome's disallowed goal, which would have put the game level at 2-2. The referee clearly indicated that his decision to disallow the goal was for a high foot from Jerome, but the decision has widely been considered as incorrect.
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The first freeze-frame shows both Jerome and the defender, Joel Ward, clearly with their eyes on the ball as it approaches them following a header. Given that the ball is heading towards the goal with both players with their back to it, it would be much more difficult for Jerome to direct an effort on goal with his head than for Ward to head the ball back in the direction it came. At this point Jerome spontaneously decides how best to play the ball, with the only option being to play it with his boot in order to direct an effort on goal.
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At this point it becomes clear that the ball is heading in the direction of Jerome, with Ward still not committing to a header, remaining in virtually the same position with the same posture as the first freeze-frame. By this point Jerome has already raised his leg, still with his eyes solely on the ball, and is half way through completing his shot on goal. All of this occurs whilst the defender concerned has both legs planted to the ground and has not yet made a movement or change of posture to suggests he will challenge for the ball.
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The third freeze-frame is where Jerome initially makes contact with the ball. At this point the defender has seen Jerome raise his leg and makes a last ditch attempt to head the ball clear. As the magnified freeze-frame below shows, Ward's body position is facing downwards as the ball is lower than head height. Jerome makes a clean contact with the ball, directing it towards goal and making no contact with the defender, who remains behind him and out of his sight.
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This magnified snapshot of the above freeze-frame shows the exact moment that Jerome makes contact with the ball and shows the Crystal Palace defender, Joel Ward clearly moving his head downwards towards the ball. As freeze-frame two shows, Ward could see that Jerome was going to raise his boot in order to have an attempt on goal and chooses to place his head in a potential position of danger. Cameron Jerome is focussed on making contact with the ball and, with Joel Ward behind him, cannot forsee that he would be challenging for the ball with his head. In this instance the referee was incorrect to rule out the goal.
Read the full assessment of Simon Hooper's performance. |