Claridge: There wasn't any contact

BBC Football League Show pundit and former AFC Bournemouth striker Steve Claridge has stuck by his claim that Brett Pitman dived to win the Cherries the last minute penalty against Torquay.

On the highlights show on BBC One, Claridge commented on the penalty and said...

'It's is just absolute madness, this is never a penalty. If you showed a different angle of this Brett Pitman hasn't even been touched.'

'If you showed an angle from behind the goal I bet there would be daylight between him and the nearest player. It is a joke decision and one the referee cannot make, no matter what angle he looks at that he cannot give a penalty.'

These comments led to a number of UpTheCherries users sending in complaint emails to the BBC, as anyone in the North Stand could confirm the blatant double handed push to the back of Brett Pitman.

UpTheCherries own complaint read...

Steve Claridge's comments on the BBC Football League Show regarding Bournemouth's penalty against Torquay were completely uncalled for and bordering on libellous.

For his information, from behind the goal, only yards from the incident and without any players blocking the action (unlike the one camera view the BBC had), the double handed push to the back of Pitman was blatant. Yes he went down easily, just like Claridge did in his career, but it was still a stone wall penalty.

I look forward to his apology to Brett Pitman on the next show.

The Daily Echo contacted Steve Claridge following complaints made by UpTheCherries users and he told the Echo...

"I`ve seen it extensively. Unfortunately, only from one angle because it`s a one-camera shot. But from what I saw, it didn`t look like there was any contact at all. It looked a very soft penalty.

"He didn`t go down as if he had been pushed, there was no forward motion. He just fell to the ground. That is my opinion and I can only give it on what I see...

He went on to add...

'...We`re not there to upset anyone, we`re there to give an opinion. I can only give my opinion on what I saw and I`m not about to change it. It was my opinion but it doesn`t mean it is cast in stone. If I`m wrong, I`m wrong but I don`t think I am...'

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