Blame ref, not Doucoure

ABDOULAYE DOUCOURE is not a cheat. Yes he handled the ball to score Watford’s controversial equaliser against Southampton, but many players handle the ball without being accused of cheating. I agree with Glenn Hoddle, who feels that while this type of handball is an offence, it is an instinctive move. It is not similar to the Maradona ‘Hand of God’ offence in the 1986 World Cup against England. It’s more akin to the one another Frenchman, Thierry Henry, committed in France’s play-off match against the Republic of Ireland. And Henry was no cheat, either. The simple fact is it should have been spotted by referee Roger East and his assistant Derek Eaton. Watford were pushing hard at the end of a tight game so East (right) should have been alert. He wasn’t and failed to seek optimum viewing angles as he should have done. The obvious solution is using the video referee, which would clear this up in seconds. However, officials must still strive to get decisions correct without reviews and remember the technology is only available at the very top level.