‘How is that not a penalty?!’ – Pundits, fans and Coventry baffled by referee’s ‘strange’ decision

‘How is that not a penalty?!’ – Pundits, fans and Coventry have been left baffled by referee’s ‘strange’ decision in the game against Stoke.

Just before half time, Viktor Johansson came running off his line and cleaned out Coventry’s Ephron Mason-Clark, only for referee David Webb to look, look again, and ignored calls for a spot kick, leading to loud boos from fans.

Stoke boss Mark Robins, on his return to his former club, watched the replay on his screen and gave a wry smile, knowing his side dodged a bullet there.

No pen?! Yeah, okay 🤣🤯

~ @dannymcd93 #PUSB
pic.twitter.com/jhGMETXW4V

— All Things Sky Blue (@AllThingSkyBlue) March 8, 2025

That is up there with one of the worst refereeing decisions I’ve seen all season.

I am baffled right now. #PUSB | #SCFC https://t.co/bH3wfQiixi pic.twitter.com/lzLFsfUFUd

— Callum Moseley (@CallumTDUK) March 8, 2025

Pen or no pen.?#pusb #sba #sbftv #ccfc pic.twitter.com/FylUiOZLfF

— SkyBlueFansTV (@SkyBlueFansTV1) March 8, 2025

Steve Ogrizovic (Ex-Coventry City goalkeeper on BBC CWR): “I’m pretty sure if VAR was here they’d change it. The keeper doesn’t make contact with the ball. Surely it’s no other decision than a penalty. This is where you need help from your assistants. I think Stoke have got away with it.”

Michael Dawson on EFL Goal Zone on Soccer Saturday: “I can’t believe the referee missed this. He absolutely cleans him out.”

Mike Dean on EFL Goal Zone on Soccer Saturday: “He should be more switched on. He’s in a great position. It isn’t a goal kick, put it that way. He’s just taken him out. It’s a complete penalty, and probably a red card as well.”

Coventry were 2-0 up at the time of the incident, thanks to a double from Victor Torp on the 23rd and 31st minute. However Stoke got on back on the 64th minute, setting it up a nervy finish for the hosts, who felt hard done by via that controversial decision not to give a spot kick.

Stoke fans were singing “2-0 and you f*cked it up” on the 87th minute, when Gallagher levelled the scoreline, and very nearly took the lead straight after Wouter Burger attempted an audacious back-heel into the ground and it came within an inch over the bar.

But then Coventry fought back, Bobby Thomas clinching a winner on the 97th minute to send the home fans inside the CBS Arena wild, and those in the away end heading for the exits.

Coventry boss Frank Lampard said: “Really pleased with him, a midfield player that can score goals and have an all-round game is priceless for us and the balance of the team.

“It was my game, I suppose as a coach you set up the team and when you play with two eights who are mobile like he and Josh (Eccles) were today it has to be part of their game.

“I see it in training a lot and I work on those things because it was part of my game, but he’s the one who did it and I’m delighted for him and the impact he had on the game today.

“I’d prefer it was done and dusted but it can’t always be the way. I thought we started the second half pretty well but it felt cagey and you’re always aware a goal changes the game and it did.

“If we get the penalty we should have had, it wouldn’t have been done at half time but clear, and everyone in the stadium knew that.

“Their second goal was offside as well but keeping going when there’s seven minutes, they had a bit of momentum which we grabbed back a bit in that extra time so I’m just really happy.

“Bobby’s popped up with some big goals for us and that’s what we’re in football for, there will be times I sit here and I’ll be disappointed and there’s times when you know the Coventry fans in the stadium have gone away with an amazing game and an amazing feeling at the end.”

Stoke manager Mark Robins: “The three goals were terrible and that’s where we’re lacking,” said Robins.

“We make really naive choices, we win the ball, knock it down to them in midfield, those are the things that are costing us in games and they need to realise that.

“To allow them to get a cross in, to allow Bobby Thomas to pick up a ball in our penalty area and allow him to drag it onto his left foot and then not stand in the way of a shot is unforgivable.

“We started brightly. We created three chances before they’d had a shot on target.

“Then their first effort on goal ends up in the back of our net. It’s too easy, we’ve allowed him to jump into our centre half, who doesn’t see him coming, and allows him to get a header and flick it into the far corner.

“We got back into the game out of nothing really, little bit of good play, they were sloppy, we capitalised on it, whereas if we’d have capitalised on the first three chances we had then it could have been a different afternoon for us.

“We could have caused them more problems, we turned it down, we were a bit negative and I don’t know why, because these are there for the taking, I’ve got to say they’re there for the taking and today we could have won this game.”

‘How is that not a penalty?!’ – Pundits, fans and Coventry baffled by the referee’s ‘strange’ decision…

@AndiMorris85: Got to applaud Viktor Johansson to be fair, if he hadn’t played dead on the floor, that penalty would have been given, and he’d have been sent off! Proper shithousery. #PUSB

@ArcticDonkey: Torp is magic and should have had a hattrick with a penalty there, officials at this level are SHOCKING. Most stone all pen I’ve seen here. #PUSB

@Astr0On: Stonewall pen – ref should be punished for that decision. Torp playing well and Tats proving his doubters wrong. I would like Sheaf on for Eccles to get a bit more control in the second half. Also MVE deserves some praise for that half as well #PUSB

@TnsCov: That looked so much worse in real time that clash than it does on the replay, it’s a penalty but this ref has been weak all season to that sort of thing doesn’t give pens barely yellows anyone surprised by the call hasn’t done their research #PUSB

@maxyC91: Weak refereeing. He’s decided to not make a decision because it would have killed the game. “Ah they are 2-0 up doesn’t matter too much Poor. @SkyBluesExtra #pusb

@paulwradio: How. The HELL is that not a penalty? How?! Accidental or not the Stoke goalie’s just practically murdered Ephron Mason-Clark! #pusb

@Deanoaka: It’s up there with one of the worst refereeing decisions ever seen at the CBS that… #PUSB

@guzcaster: 🤬 baffling refereeing. EMC totally taken out #pusb

@kajer87: How is that not a pen? Knocks the ball over the keeper and gets totally wiped out #pusb

@MattLeeBull: That’s a stonewall penalty! What has the referee seen for him not to give that? 😂 #PUSB

@AndiMorris85: The stoniest of stonewall penalties there for Coventry. Absolutely dismal refereeing there, and a massive let off for Stoke. #PUSB

@chris_langsford: That was to be the worst decision I have ever seen. 🤦‍♂️ #PUSB

@JSidGreer: How is that not a pen 😂😂😂😂😂 Jesus that’s shocking refereeing #pusb

@AlexBos88: Pen all day every day, mental decision #PUSB

@covjim: Pen all day long..#PUSB

@hxrry04_: standard of refs in the efl is so embarrassing #PUSB

@rundle_mick: Jaysus. Where do they get these officials? #PUSB

@UkuleleKev: What the fuck!? HOW THE FUCK HASN’T HE GIVEN THAT #PUSB #CCFC

@noiseanPUSB: That’s an absolutely horrific referee call! #PUSB

@CCFCRJ: Thats the clearest penalty ive ever seen #pusb

@SkyBlueDean: Penalty and red card all day, bewildering decision #PUSB

@MrLCP87: And another dog shit ref. Respect👍 #pusb

@essjayarr: What a honking decision that is. Stonewall penalty. #PUSB

@peteoconn: I’m about 120 yards away & massively biased yet it appears I’m better placed to see it’s an obvious penalty for Coventry than the bloke who is 10 yards away & does this for a living. #scfc #ccfc

@OjCCFC: 30,000 people, fuck knows how many others watching on the TV. And the only two people, the ONLY two people that can’t see it’s a penalty and a sending off…. Is the referee and the Lino!? How do these people get jobs??

@andy_cov93: How on earth is that not a penalty???