Zaha is impossible to referee
WILFRIED ZAHA seldom misses an opportunity to hit the ground in games, seeming to prefer to ‘win’ a penalty rather than try to score himself. After 40 minutes of an absorbing game at Selhurst Park, referee Kevin Friend awarded Crystal Palace their first spot-kick when Zaha went down after contact by Asmir Begovic. While Zaha was going down well before contact, Begovic’s body was across his path and the Bournemouth goalkeeper caused the contact. Late in the second half, Zaha again went down when Charlie Daniels caught him. Daniels made minimal contact on the ball and then caught Zaha. It was such a tough decision that I don’t think Friend should be criticised for giving the penalty. I don’t think I’d have given the second one and what I am certain of is I wouldn’t have liked refereeing Zaha, whose antics make it impossible to decipher fair from foul.