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Week 12 of the Barclays Premier League was full of controversial refereeing decisions. Ombre Hydro Flask 32 Oz Sale . From Wes Browns sending off for Sunderland to Kevin Mirallas yellow card for Everton in the Merseyside derby, it wasnt a comfortable weekend to be a referee. Whenever an incident happens on the field, every fan expects the referee to make the correct decision. Yet referees dont have the benefit of slow-motion instant replays, and have only their assistant referees with whom they can consult for input. Often times, the referees view of an incident is not ideal, and can be blocked by other players. Yet they are expected to get decisions correct every time. With the benefit of instant replays, it is often much easier to make those decisions. Should Wes Brown have been sent off for Sunderland? No. Should Kevin Mirallas have been red carded for his horrible tackle on Luis Suarez? Absolutely. What makes a referees job more difficult, though, is that the vast majority of fans (and even some professional players, coaches and analysts!) do not fully understand the laws of the game. Case in point: Arsenals penalty kick in their game against Southampton. After a Tomas Rosicky corner kick was delivered into Southamptons penalty area, referee Mark Clattenburg blew his whistle and pointed to the penalty spot. His reason was that Southampton defender Jose Fonte pulled the jersey of Arsenals Per Mertesacker. Replays showed that Fonte did indeed have a handful of Mertesackers jersey, that he impeded the German international from reaching the ball. Clattenburg was absolutely correct to award a penalty kick. Yet it didnt stop the inevitable outcry on Twitter. Fans voiced their opinions, which ranged from "Thats never a PK - referees always let that go!" to "The ball was behind Mertesacker - need to take that into account!" to "Glad to see a referee finally call that - happens all the time!" Regardless of your opinion as a fan of the beautiful game, the FIFA laws of the game are very clear on what constitutes a foul, and in particular, a direct free kick. Consider the following from FIFA: The following conditions must be met for an offence to be considered a foul:• it must be committed by a player• it must occur on the field of play• it must occur while the ball is in play Group of Four• tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball• holds an opponent• spits at an opponent• handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area) For this group of four direct free kicks fouls, the referee is concerned with whether the action occurred, not with how it was done. For fouls in this group of four, the FIFA laws of the game require the following action to be taken: • restart with a direct free kick for the opposing team where the offence occurred • exception: if the offence was committed by a defender inside his own penalty area• penalty kick for the attacking team The laws of the game are very clear. Pulling a jersey (holding an opponent) is not allowed and is punishable with a direct free kick, or a penalty kick if the offence occurs within the penalty area. Mark Clattenburg was absolutely spot on to call a penalty in Arsenals favour. Fans (as well as players, coaches and anyone else who watches the game) would do well to familiarize themselves with FIFAs laws of the game. Some of your preconceived ideas about how the game is officiated might actually turn out to be completely false. Hydro Flask 18 Oz Sale . Vinci also beat Dulgheru last week in Bucharest en route to her first WTA final in a year. Vinci next faces sixth-seeded Kurumi Nara of Japan, who beat Czech qualifier Katerina Siniakova 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-2. No. Hydro Flask 24 Oz Sale . Redden played a total of 1,023 regular-season games with Ottawa, the New York Rangers, St. Louis and Boston. He finished with 457 points (109 goals, 348 assists) and a plus-160 rating over his career. http://www.hydroflaskaustraliasale.com/hydro-flask-accessories.html . Rudy Gay made the tying basket in regulation and a 3-pointer in overtime that gave Sacramento the lead for good, and Fredette scored a career-high 24 points to help the Kings beat the Knicks 106-101 on Wednesday night.Anaheim Ducks The team sent Max Friberg back to Norfolk (AHL). The move suggests that Corey Perry (knee) might be ready to return. - Orange County Register Calgary Flames F Josh Jooris is back in the line up after missing the last three games with a wrist injury. Mason Raymond will be a healthy scratch. - Jermain Franklin, TSN Columbus Blue Jackets Artem Anisimov (torn triceps) has resumed light skating in the past few days but will not go on the teams upcoming road trip. - Team Twitter Minnesota Wild The team activated G Niklas Backstrom from injured reserve on Wednesday and sent G John Curry to Iowa (AHL). - Team Twitter New Jersey Devils Martin Havlat travelled with the team for tonights game in Detroit. He has been out with the flu. - Star-Ledger Ottawa Senators D Marc Methot skated with the teaam this morning for the first time since early December. Hydro Flask Ombre 40 Oz Sale. He could end up with Binghamton (AHL) on a rehab assignment. - Ottawa Sun Tampa Bay Lightning The team recalled D Nikita Nesterov from Syracuse (AHL) on Wednesday. - Team Release Toronto Maple Leafs All signs pointing toward Leo Komarovs return tonight. He hasnt played since Nov. 29 (concussion). Komarov will go for one further assessment before a final determination is made. He practiced on a line in Boston with Peter Holland and Mike Santorelli. - Jonas Siegel, TSN Washington Capitals Head coach Barry Trotz said that D Brooks Orpik will take pre-game warmups on Thursday ahead of the Winter Classic and will make a decision on whether to play. Trotz said there was no structural damage involved in Orpiks injury. - Katie Strang, ESPN ' ' '