July 25 – It isn’t every day that the referee changes his or her mind about a crucial decision in a pivotal competitive match after being read the rules by one of the players.
But that’s exactly what Italy’s Carina Vitulano did in helping England beat Spain at the women’s Euro 2017 in the Netherlands, changing her mind after initially awarding the Spanish a penalty.
With England leading 1-0 in their Group D match, Spain were initially awarded the spot-kick when the ball struck striker Ellen White’s arm in the area. England protested that the handball was not intentional, as it had deflected up off White’s thigh, after she slipped.
Under the new laws of the game, any ball which does this is not an offence – and Vitulano corrected her initial decision after an intervention by England defender Lucy Bronze.
The win moved England to within a point of the knock-out stages but it could have been so different.
“The ball came at me quite quickly, it came off my leg and hit my arm and based on the new laws that is not a penalty,” said White.
“The referee held her hands up and said she had made a mistake, so it was a great relief.”
Praising the official’s u-turn, Bronze added: “Fair play to her for doing that. I don’t think a lot of referees would be brave enough to do that in such a big game and such a big decision.
“I think the Spanish girls were a bit disappointed and annoyed but, if they watch it back, they will see it is a completely accidental handball.”
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