Former Swansea Midfielder Andy Robinson Criticizes “Terrible” Penalty Call Against Swans

Andy Robinson, a former midfielder for Swansea, expressed sympathy for Luke Williams’ team, asserting that the decisive penalty awarded to Burnley at Turf Moor on Sunday stemmed from a “terrible” refereeing judgment. Referee David Webb granted the home side a spot-kick after determining that Swans captain Matt Grimes had handled the ball within the penalty area. Jay Rodriguez successfully converted the penalty from 12 yards, securing a 1-0 victory for Scott Parker’s squad. Robinson conveyed his disappointment for Swansea’s players, believing they had performed sufficiently to earn a draw, despite their limited offensive threat. Speaking on BBC Radio Wales Sport, Robinson stated, “”It’s a sickener,”” adding, “”I don’t mind the referee taking his time – and I’m seeing it on the monitor – but it’s never, ever a penalty.”” While Grimes did make contact with the ball with his raised arm as he contested a header amidst Burnley attackers, he reportedly had minimal opportunity to react when the ball was headed towards him at close range by Rodriguez, who subsequently scored. Robinson further commented, “”He’s tried to pull his hands away, but there’s players around him. I can see why Matty Grimes is so aggrieved – and I also think it’s a foul on Harry Darling before that.”” He concluded, “”It’s a big call and he’s [the referee] got it wrong. I’ve been there as a player. It’s a bad decision, a terrible decision.”” Despite his criticism of the penalty, Robinson commended the execution of the spot-kick, which occurred in additional time. He also suggested that Swansea deserved recognition for their competitive performance against the Clarets, a team that advanced to fourth place in the Championship standings following their win. He observed, “”Both teams were getting into good positions and not delivering,”” and noted, “”We didn’t see clear-cut chances. There were some efforts, but not golden chances.”” Robinson highlighted Josh Key as a standout performer, praised Joe Allen’s “fantastic” contribution during his 60 minutes on the field, and similarly lauded Ban Cabango. He concluded that while Swansea displayed several strong individual performances, their effectiveness diminished once they reached the final third of the pitch.