What do touchline officials do?
With Wales 1-0 up in their first international tournament game in 58 years, courtesy of a stunning Gareth Bale freekick, they had Slovakia well and truly on the ropes in a pulsating first half.
There were 13 minutes remaining to the half-time whistle when a speculative attack saw the Welsh dragons enter the opponents’ penalty area with Jonny Williams looking to latch onto the ball.
But as the Crystal Palace man advanced towards the six yard box, with Slovakia’s Martin Skrtel seemingly second best in the pursuit for possession, he was stopped in his tracks in savage style.
Skrtel sized up and then executed a vicious elbow to the midfielder’s throat in what was surely a red card offence. Williams crumpled to the ground as the ball rolled out of play.
And yet what was the punishment for this heinous challenge? A straight red? A clear penalty allowing Wales to go 2-o up? No. Nothing was given. Instead Slovakia were awarded a goal kick.
What made the negligent officiating even worse was the proximity and attention of the touchline official, who was barely a yard away with his eyes firmly on the action.
Why he did nothing in the face of such a diabolical foul is anybody’s guess. It certainly got Twitter talking that’s for sure…
Boos from Wales end as replays on big screen show Martin Skrtel catching Jonny Williams in the throat with his arm.
— Tom Williams (@tomwfootball) June 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/W_F_Magee/status/741669628158611456
https://twitter.com/danstapleton89/status/741669619308605440
Martin Skrtel, forever a penalty or an own goal waiting to happen. #WAL #SVK
— Back Page Football (@bpfootball) June 11, 2016
Textbook Skrtel, that. A career in MMA surely beckons one day.
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) June 11, 2016
That penalty call is one of the worst decisions I've ever seen. What are those officials behind the goal for? Elbow to the face? #WAL
— Chris Owen (Mastadon thing bio blah) (@wonky_donky) June 11, 2016
Skrtel is lucky he did that right in front of the timid official who's too shy to mention anything to his boss.
— Jim Boardman (@JimBoardman) June 11, 2016
Astonishing that replays of the flashpoints being replayed on big screens. Slovakia fans unhappy with Taylor foul, Wales livid with Skrtel.
— Ed Dove (@EddyDove) June 11, 2016
