Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk: Raheem Sterling awarded a penalty for kicking the turf

Manchester City‘s second goal against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League group stage match came about from a penalty awarded by referee Viktor Kassai to Raheem Sterling for a perceived foul by defender Mykola Matviyenko.

In real time, it looked like Sterling had possibly dived for the penalty, however replay footage showed he had fallen dramatically after kicking the Etihad Stadium turf with a lot of force.

To his credit, Sterling did not appeal for the penalty, but he did not pull the referee aside to alert him as to what had happened.

THAT IS A SHOCKER!

Raheem Sterling trips on the turf, unopposed and the referee awards a penalty kick. pic.twitter.com/vdCDsw8Qsf

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 7, 2018

Gabriel Jesus converted from the spot accordingly, for Manchester City to take a 2-0 lead.

Early in the second-half, Sterling scored an excellent goal for City’s third of the night, dribbling thirty yards through the Shakhtar defence with defenders hanging off him, before letting loose a curled drive into the top right.

Reaction to the call

At the time, BT Sport commentator Robbie Savage said: “That is not a dive … let’s get one thing straight that is not a dive. It’s poor refereeing.

“He’s kicked the floor, he’s gone over. He didn’t appeal for it.”

There was a clear case for the Etihad’s groundsman being awarded a yellow, as many commentators suggested:

Roll on VAR and get rid of the useless lollipop men behind the goal. Laughable decision. Sterling stubs his toe as he runs through, trips over, nobody near, penalty awarded, Shakhtar half-laughing, half-furious. Crazy decision. Jesus scores from the spot. 2-0 #mcfc

— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) November 7, 2018

I mean this is just objectively funny, can’t we at least settle on that? https://t.co/C2cLNc366O

— Tom Victor (@tomvictor) November 7, 2018

How can Savage (or whoever that is) say it isn't a dive? He's tripped over himself and LUNGED because he's felt "contact". You don't fly that far forward on a trip. https://t.co/1LN0q0wmeh

— Dean (@ArsenalNexus) November 7, 2018

Gotta hold his hands up to the ref for me https://t.co/3OAx5fmtPa

— Shaun Williams (@shaunywilliams6) November 7, 2018

Others suggested Raheem Sterling should’ve rectified the decision by the referee by telling him what had happened:

Am I on my own in thinking Sterling really should admit what happened here to the ref? https://t.co/7AyHgbZzPE

— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) November 7, 2018

A lot of people say you shouldn’t do the official’s job for them (eg walking when you’ve nicked in cricket). But surely Sterling needs to tell the ref he tripped on the turf. https://t.co/eVhoMINytZ

— Paul Hayward (@_PaulHayward) November 7, 2018

Follow us on Facebook: @iPaperSport

The incident only strengthens the calls to introduce VAR to English and European competition, as the match officials behind the goal were in an excellent position to spot the error but did not intervene.

During a VAR review, decisions like a goal awarded in error can be overturned if there is a case for a clear and obvious error, such as in this incident.