From Jon Bray :
Hi Myles,
I’m also a referee and I cannot see how anyone can credibly argue that it was NOT a foul or a penalty.
The defender raised his boot and caught Koscielny with his studs at shoulder height.
If he misses Koscielny, it’s still dangerous and an indirect free-kick.
But the defender made contact. It is a foul that would anywhere else on the pitch have resulted in a direct free kick and in the penalty area resulted in a penalty. Pretty clear-cut in my eyes.
I guess football will always be a game of opinions!
Please keep up the fantastic work on your superb blog.
All the best. Jon