Fans were left baffled after a Rochdale penalty becomes a Scunthorpe free-kick before the ball is even kicked.
The league leaders drew 1-1 with Scunthorpe but a ‘missed’ penalty got everyone talking, with the National League writing that Emmanuel Dieseruvwe seemingly touched the ball before walking away from the spot.
Rochdale were awarded a penalty, only for it to then end in an indirect free-kick for Scunthorpe when Dieseruvwe stopped his run-up, leading to protests from Scunthorpe players surrounding the referee, with keeper Rory Mahady picking up the ball.
The referee said it was in violation of the rules regarding feinting. Under FA rules (Law 14), feinting is allowed during the run-up, but players cannot stop completely or feint once the run-up is finished.
The rules allow a retake if a goal is scored and then disallowed. If no goal is scored after an illegal feint/stop, the kicker gets a yellow card and the defending team receives an indirect free-kick.
As #buryfc fans we’ve seen some bad penalties but what was Dieseruvwe thinking for Rochdale?! 🤣 pic.twitter.com/msk1ppaWVv
— The Mighty Shakers Podcast (@TMS1885) February 17, 2026
@dazn_nationalleagueWhat happened here?! 🤯 Rochdale are awarded a penalty which results in a Scunthorpe free-kick🤔♬ original sound – National League on DAZN
Rochdale… pic.twitter.com/qA6mKXV4gy
— Callum Hallett (@CallumHallett6) February 17, 2026
Rochdale tweeted: “25′ Mani steps up and hesitates when reaching the ball. Referee gives Scunthorpe a free-kick.”
They said in their match report: “Dale had a golden opportunity to level when Dieseruvwe was fouled inside the area, but after aborting his run-up to the penalty kick, referee Drysdale awarded an indirect free-kick to the hosts for an infringement by the striker.”
Scunthorpe wrote: “25’ BIZARRE! Dieseruvwe stops in his run-up completely and the free-kick is awarded to the Iron.”
Rochdale boss Jim McNulty said on the penalty: I’ve never seen anything like before with what happened. So I was baffled and bemused by the unfoldings from from the officiating team.
“I have just had to go in and see the officials, which is something I very rarely do. Very rarely. But with what took place there, yeah, it needs 10 minutes on itself for the conversation I’ve just had in there.
“But Manny, in the middle of Manny taking his action, of taking the penalty, the referee is in the middle of screaming at people on the edge of the box, which you can clearly see, and it’ll be there on his coms, and gesticulating like furiously to the to the edge of the box to try and um, keep order maybe people not entering the 18 yard box as Manny taking that penalty.
“For me like, first things first. I just spoke to him on this. I said I feel like you should have order completely under control before you even blow the whistle for our for our player to take the action. A
“nd I don’t believe as Manny’s running in to take a penalty, he should be running out screaming and ushering. I don’t think that should happen. I think that should be sorted. Everyone knows they’re on a booking if they enter.
“And at that point, Manny’s allowed to start his action without being distracted from anything else. I found that bizarre.
“The referee shared that he felt that Manny stopped his action which I’ve been told in the law is that is a indirect free kick to the opponent, should Manny do that.
“My take on it was that Manny jogs up to the ball and jogs beyond it because he’s picking up on the referee shouting and someone shouting behind that he should wait.
“So I spoke to Manny about it. Manny is saying that the referee’s shouting something that makes him think he has to wait. He thinks that shouts coming from him.
“So he jogs past the ball and he’s he’s ready to take the action again. The referee gave an indirect referee kick.
“I’ve just been in for clarity on that because I don’t I don’t think there was clarity.
“I got the sense when I looked in the fourth eyes that he didn’t know what had just happened and he wasn’t getting a clear message on it.
“And the referee’s assessor within the refereeing room there has just given me clarity that he believes that the referee made a mistake tonight that if anything, Manny should be booked for not striking the ball but should indefinitely be allowed to take the penalty again.
“I don’t know how much it should be shared in here now cuz there’s a lot more said than that, but I’m disappointed that as an officiating team, they didn’t know the rules on that tonight.
“I don’t think with what’s at stake on the game that the officiating team shouldn’t have, you know, a rule that may come to eventuality not covered within their knowledge.
“I don’t think that should be the case. I admit I haven’t got a I haven’t got a clue. I think they should know.
“And yeah, it was rushed. I then I believe once something had happened which they weren’t sure on.
“I think they should have took some time, communicated and found the right solution, but it’s worrying when they don’t actually know what the solution is. That’s worrying.
“The referee’s assessor has given me clarity. He thinks, you know, there’s a mistake been made there. Humans do make them. It’s had a massive impact on the game but we should have won the game anyway and we were amazing.”
As mentioned, fans were left baffled after a Rochdale penalty becomes a Scunthorpe free-kick before the ball is kicked…
@RochdaleAFCcom: The @officiallydale commentary has said that the referee assessor confirmed Drysdale got this call wrong & it should’ve been a retake. Absolute farce, but sadly not a surprise with Drysdale – he’ll just enjoy the notoriety when it inevitably ends up on @QuestionofSport #RAFC
@gingereejit: Ref got it wrong – According to Law 14 (The Penalty Kick) S2 (Offences and Sanctions). Not only is it an IFK to the defending team for the penalty taker feinting at the completion of his run up, the penalty taker should also be cautioned
@TommyRAFC: Wtf have I just witnessed #RAFC
@barbinho9: I was at this game tonight and it’s the most bizarre thing I’ve ever seen
@steady_profits: Very bizarre. He looked like he was waiting for the goalie to move first, but he didn’t move it all, so he just panicked and gave up, hoping to get another go. He got what he deserved.
@WYSIWYG_2018: Law 14 -Penalty Kick. the player taking the penalty kick or a team-mate offends: feinting to kick the ball once the kicker has completed the run-up (feinting in the run-up is permitted); the referee cautions the kicker
@iggy1966: A player who’s doesn’t know the rules, I bet he won’t do that again.
@Matt_YCFCWaller: He touched the ball
@Jaytwo86: Not sure he did, or at least if he did the ref has given the wrong decision as the ball would be in play and keeper could just pick it up. He’s given a free kick so he’s done him for feinting. Should’ve booked him too.
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