Cherries’ wait for a spot-kick long precedes Iraola’s time at the club, failing to be given a penalty in the entirety of last season. Iraola’s men had a few shouts to referee John Brooks for a penalty during their 3-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion. Dominic Solanke went down under a challenge of Pervis Estupinan early on, before Simon Adingra’s hand connected with the face of Marcus Tavernier, also in the first half. On the flip side, both Liverpool and Swansea City have been awarded penalties against Cherries earlier this campaign, the one at Anfield particularly contentious when Dominik Szoboszlai went down under Joe Rothwell’s tackle.
Andoni Iraola said: “I don’t know what has to happen to be given a penalty. A slap in the face, clearly. There are people watching on TV and then we concede a penalty, I remember the one at Anfield, a light touch.”
Iraola and coach Pablo de la Torre were often seen discussing decisions with fourth official Peter Bankes during the contest, who was in consultation with video assistant Michael Oliver.
Andoni Iraola said: “We were winning 1-0 and they are key decisions that are very important. There was a check they did on Dom after five minutes, a possible penalty. I think it is a push. But they say it has to be something else for a penalty. But you see the one we conceded at Liverpool. It is difficult, but I understand this one because it is a push, but it is not enough for a penalty. But not the second one. The second one he (Adingra) just slaps the face of Tavernier without any reason. Maybe he lost his mind for one second, but sometimes red cards are like this. It just costs one second. Now it is probably not the referees, but the ones watching. I think that if you don’t concede this penalty, you are free in the box to slap players. This cannot happen. It is not like there is a reason why. I think it is pretty obvious.”
Cherries have slipped to 17th in the Premier League table over the weekend, with no wins from their opening six matches.
They turn their attentions to the Carabao Cup in midweek, when Championship Stoke City come to Vitality Stadium.
