A Japanese player is awarded a penalty despite being brought down outside the box. Photo / Twitter.
A Japanese player is awarded a penalty despite being brought down outside the box. Photo / Twitter.
A Kiwi ref is in the spotlight after making some contentious decisions during the semifinal of the Women's World Cup between Japan and England.
Aucklander Anna-Marie Keighley was awarded control of one of the biggest matches in women's football after expertly officiating four games at the World Cup, but her first half performance in the semi-final had social media up in arms.
Keighley awarded Japan a penalty in the 33rd minute after judging that English defender Claire Rafferty felled Saori Arioshi inside the box, despite replays suggesting the contact was made well outside.
England still in there fighting. Two dodgy pen decisions but deserve to be level. Fara Williams prob England's player of tournament so far
Everything changed when Claire Rafferty shoved Saori Ariyoshi just inside the area - England protested, forlornly, it was just outside - and Miayma stepped up to take the penalty. Despite delaying her kick and then stuttering in the run-up, she sent Bardsley the wrong way.
If Sampson had a case for arguing that Rafferty's inital push had been made marginally outside the area, he could have had no complaints when England - due £35,000 per woman bonuses had they lifted the trophy - won a distinctly iffy penalty of their own.
This time, Steph Houghton tumbled all too easy in the face of Yuki Ogimi's challenge, but the referee bought it and Fara Williams stepped up to the spot. Sampson's set-piece specialist did not let him down, her kick comfortably evading Ayumi Kaihori's grasp.
England eventually lost the game 2-1 after scoring a freak own goal from the edge of the box in the 93rd minute.
It's not the first time a Kiwi ref has caused an international stir. Last year an online petition drew over 20,000 signatures to remove New Zealand referee Peter O'Leary from the World Cup after an image appeared of him 'celebrating' with Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.
New Zealand referee Peter O'Leary talks to Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, background right, following Nigeria's 1-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina. Photo / Getty Images
O'Leary drew widespread criticism after wrongly disallowing an Edin Dzeko strike after 21 minutes in the Bosnia-Herzegovina defeat.
Eight minutes later Peter Odemwingie fired the Super Eagles in front, but Emmanuel Emenike appeared to clip the heels of Emir Spahic in the build-up.
That went unpunished and the appearance of the picture has prompted a Bosnian fan to send a petition to Fifa asking for the removal of O'Leary and the match to be changed to 1-1.
In the aftermath of the game Manchester City striker Dzeko, who also hit the post late on, said O'Leary's performance was "shameful".
When asked what happened in the game he said: "The referee happened. We are going home, we are sad because of that, but the referee should go home too, because he changed the result, he changed the game, and that's why we lost."
