Re: Can someone explain this?
Le ModAlways thought you're not allowed to feign to hit the ball, or go past the ball, he steps over the ball so I'm guessing it's that. I've not read the exact rule.
I actually think he hears a whistle and thinks he's being told by the ref to wait, but it came from the crowd.
It's this, basically.
Jim McNulty (Rochdale manager) said post-match that when Dieseruvwe was taking the penalty, the referee was gesticulating to the players on the edge of the box. As he is moving up the ball, he hears somebody say "wait" (also, in the official DAZN video you can hear a whistle). Dieseruvwe therefore steps past the ball, believing the referee has asked him to stop.
McNulty says the referee's assessor at the game said that the referee made a wrong decision, actually suggesting "if anything Manny should be booked for not striking the ball but indefinitely should have been able to take the penalty again."