It's particularly stupid, because as you say there are a few keanes etc but the person saying this is usually specifically not including those "Keanes" ," gerrards" etc as they aren't the same level of player as the well known Keane and Gerrard
It's a penalty wether the ball is cleared or not. Off the ball fouls are fouls
2 minute mark. Essentially the same foul, Reckless punch to a players head "off the ball". Same result penalty.
The exact scenario you described, penalty given. First highlight in the video. Was a better angle shown during the match, but it's sickening to watch, Fractured cheek I'm near sure.
Celtics penalty in this game given for a very similar thing...
That was ridiculous against Coventry. It was so obviously offside in realtime, and then the replay, co commentator saying its onside whilst the replay shows it isn't, just because he wanted it to be. Commentator corrected him to be fair after...
They did. Leverkusen were magnitudes better than west ham. The quality difference was stark. West ham deployed terrorist football tactics. Only there to destroy rather than create.
West Ham are playing like Livingston, ten men behind the ball, lump it up to the big fella. All they need is Moyes to start selling gear and they'd be indistinguishable.