Chelsea gained one point; West Brom lost two points but the biggest loser in all was the sport. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . Referee Andre Marriners decision to award Chelsea a 94th-minute penalty on Saturday was one of the most controversial decisions the Premier League has seen in some time. On the line was Jose Mourinhos unbeaten home league record as manager at Stamford Bridge, dating back to 2004. It appeared the streak was coming to an end until Ramires fell under a challenge by defender Steven Reid. Check out the play and judge for yourself. Was it a dive? No. Was it a foul? Absolutely not. Reid simply ran towards the ball and watched the Brazilian fall underneath him. Mistakes happen, referees are only human, but what about those who do not think it was a mistake? Mourinho, speaking after the game, said: "I am sure it was a penalty, I have watched it from different angles, no doubt that is a penalty." It would be easy to believe this is a comment from a man, who likes the limelight, sticking up for his team. However, if that was the case would he really go over the top in selling it as a no doubt penalty? I truly believe Mourinho, much like Marriner, believes it was a penalty and if that is the case the sport is heading down a very dangerous path. The penalty box extends 16.5 metres (54 ft) to each side of the goal and 16.5 metres (54 ft) in front of it. Those measurements have been in place since 1901. They are not going to change anytime soon, but they certainly should. If someone had never watched the sport, before today, and you had to explain to them what happened, the first question from them would surely be why is the blue team allowed a free one on one shot with no defenders in front of them when a player, nowhere near the goal, was brushed aside by a defender. Foul or no foul the punishment is far too harsh for the crime committed. Or, in this case, not committed. The awarding of a penalty is a massive moment in a football match. A referee has to be absolutely convinced a foul has taken place before pointing to the spot. This is where he needs help from the sports governing bodies and the players. The decision is so monumental he needs time to be able to make that judgment. He should also be allowed to discuss the moment with his assistants, but in a game that allows players to barrage officials with abuse that would be impossible. With the game played at a rapid pace and more and more rules put in place to help attackers and hinder defenders, the regular awarding of penalties throughout the sport globally (not just the Premier League) is a problem. And it is getting worse. Here is a look at stats (via Opta) of the amount of penalties taken each season in the Premier League. Season Penalties Taken Goals (pen) Success (per cent) 2013-14 25 19 76.0 2012-13 85 68 80.0 2011-12 100 72 72.0 2010-11 105 81 77.1 2009-10 111 86 77.5 2008-09 85 67 78.8 2007-08 88 68 77.3 2006-07 112 87 77.7 2005-06 76 57 75.0 2004-05 84 66 78.6 2003-04 89 69 77.5 2002-03 92 75 81.5 2001-02 73 48 65.8 2000-01 68 54 79.4 1999-00 85 65 76.5 1998-99 73 51 69.9 1997-98 72 57 79.2 1996-97 80 61 76.3 1995-96 68 53 77.9 1994-95* 97 67 69.1 1993-94* 99 81 81.8 1992-93* 92 61 66.3 *The first three seasons featured 22 PL teams and, subsequently, 462 matches played as opposed to 380 per season that take place in a 20-team league. Let us separate the Premier League into three different sections, with seven full seasons in each. Penalties awarded in the first seven seasons (92-93 to 98-99) - 581. An average of 83 per season. Penalties awarded in the next seven seasons (99-00-05-06) - 567. An average of 81 per season. Penalties awarded in last seven seasons (05-06-12-13) - 686. An average of 98 per season. The average amount of penalties awarded in the first 14 seasons of the Premier League was 82 with no season reaching the century mark in penalties awarded, even when 82 more games were being played. In the last seven seasons there has been four seasons where penalties awarded has reached 100 or more and the average is up by 16 per season! You dont need stats to know there are far more diving incidents and penalty appeals in the game than there once was. Managers say the right thing about ending diving in the game but ultimately it hasnt stopped players trying to gain an advantage over their fellow professionals. That was not the case with Ramires on Saturday but what happened is a direct consequence to the ongoing pressure placed on referees. Asking referees to make a judgment call on an accusation of intent (diving) simply gives them too much to think about. Put that next to comments by Mourinho setting the standard that the Ramires incident is a penalty and you can understand why more and more players try to win penalties. Its an epidemic created by the modern game and it is here to stay. Get ready for the next controversial penalty decision because it is coming much quicker than it used to. Fake NHL Jerseys . The two were in the batting cage moments before game time. Bautista was taking final warm up cuts. Pillar was hitting soft toss. The one-time utility player turned All-Star pulled aside the clubs young, fourth outfielder and offered him some advice. Wholesale NHL Jerseys China . Toronto (11-12) gave up leads in 10-8 and 11-4 losses to the Baltimore Orioles this week. It was never close Friday as the Boston Red Sox got to Mark Buehrle early en route to an 8-1 win. https://www.chinanhljerseys.us/ .com) - Former foes from the Mountain West Conference battle in the 23rd annual Las Vegas Bowl, as the 23rd-ranked Utah Utes clash with the Colorado State Rams at Sam Boyd Stadium on Saturday. ATLANTA -- A long rain delay and extra innings tested the Washington Nationals mental and physical strength. Matt Williams said he was impressed his NL East-leading team finally found a way to win. Wilson Ramos bases-loaded single sparked Washingtons three-run 11th inning, and the Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 on Saturday night. The start of the game was delayed by 3 hours, 41 minutes, and the final out wasnt recorded until Sunday at 2:29 a.m. "Considering all that happened today and the way we had to fight through the last couple of days, it was pretty good for us," Williams said. "We fought all the way." It was the Braves ninth loss in 10 games. The Nationals increased their lead in the division over Atlanta to 4 1/2 games. Anthony Rendon and Adam LaRoche led off the 11th with singles against David Carpenter (4-2). After left fielder Justin Upton made a leaping catch of Ian Desmonds liner, James Russell walked Bryce Harper to load the bases. Ramos then drove in Rendon with a single up the middle off Anthony Vavaro, Atlantas third pitcher of the inning. Devin Frandsens double to right field drove in two runs to make it 4-1. Ramos was initially ruled safe at home on the play, but the call was overturned following a replay challenge by Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez. Tyler Clippard (7-2) pitched a scoreless 10th inning, and Rafael Soriano got three outs for his 26th save in 30 chances. The Braves, who snapped an eight-game losing streak Friday night with a 7-6 win over the Nationals, were frustrated by leaving 11 runners on base. More offensive struggles wasted a strong start by Aaron Harang, who allowed one run in seven innings. "Its tough, especially against a team that we know were trying to make up ground on," Harang said. LaRoches homer in the sixth gave Washington a 1-0 lead, but the Braves tied it in the bottom half. Washingtons Tanner Roark and Harang opened with five scoreless innings before LaRoche led off the sixth with his 16th homer. The Braves settled for one run after loading the bases with no outs in the sixth. Tommy La Stella scored on Jason Heywards broken-bat fly ball to shallow centre field. Roark also lasted seeven innings, allowing one run, six hits and three walks. Custom NHL Jerseys. BOOS FOR BRYCE Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper, booed consistently by Braves fans, might have tried to send a message back to the fans by scraping his cleat over the Atlanta "A" carved into the dirt behind the batters box, as if trying to scuff it. Fans responded with more boos. SPAN THE MAN Denard Spans fifth-inning triple gave him a 13-game hitting streak. He has reached base in 35 consecutive games, a streak that began on June 28. ALUMNI SOFTBALL Newly inducted Hall of Famer Greg Maddux, and Chipper Jones were among the former Braves players who played in a legends softball game. Jones, wearing shorts and striped socks, homered in his first at-bat. Maddux settled for a double. John Rocker and Ryan Klesko were among other players to easily clear the short fence for homers. TRAINERS ROOM Nationals: Right fielder Jayson Werth was scratched from the lineup as he continues to be slowed by a sore right ankle and right shoulder. He walked as a pinch-hitter in the 11th and should start on Sunday night, according to Williams. ... Outfielder Steven Souza, who hurt his shoulder in a collision with the right-field wall and left Fridays game, entered as a pinch-runner for Werth. Braves: Shortstop Andrelton Simmons sprained left ankle is improving. Gonzalez said Simmons might play by Tuesday. Simmons was no longer wearing a soft cast, but had the ankle wrapped. ... Right-hander Shae Simmons, on the disabled list with a right shoulder strain since July 27, said he "felt really good today" throwing in the outfield. He still hasnt thrown off a mound. UP NEXT Nationals: Left-hander Gio Gonzalez will try to end a streak of four straight losses in his last five starts at Turner Field on Sunday night. He won his first two career starts in Atlanta before a long string of bad luck. Gonzalez has received one run of support in each of his last five starts in Atlanta. Braves: Left-hander Alex Wood will look for his first win since July 20. Wood is 0-2 in his last three starts, dropping him to 7-9 with a 3.20 ERA for the season. Wood is 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA in two starts against Washington this season. ' ' '