The curious case of the pop-up penalty spot at St Mary’s as Harry Arter is left red-faced.
Tottenham’s Harry Kane misses a penalty
AFC Bournemouth were gifted the perfect opportunity to beat Southampton in the Premier League when they were awarded a second half penalty at St Mary’s.
However, Harry Arter blazed his effort over the bar and the Cherries had to settle for a 0-0 draw. Yet on closer inspection it seemed it my not have been entirely Arter’s fault.
As the midfielder ran up to take the spot kick, his standing foot forced the turf to rise and move the ball – acting almost as a a pop-up flap and meaning the Republic of Ireland international got well underneath the ball.
Hardly a positive representation of the Saints ground staff, the whole thing gets a bit weirder when it becomes apparent this is not the first time it has happened this season.
Bournemouth’s Harry Arter with referee Neil Swarbrick
On Boxing Day Tottenham Hotspur were the visitors to the south coast and with the game level at 1-1, Spurs were awarded a penalty when Nathan Redmond brought down Dele Alli.
Harry Kane stepped up and, would you believe it, his standing foot caused a divot which popped the ball slightly up into the air and he put his effort over the bar. Tottenham did eventually win 4-1 on that occasion, though.
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