Football, and more pertinently the guidelines that govern the on-field action, has forever been about interpretation. About perception.
For good reason are they regarded as laws of the game rather than rules.
And Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has once again found himself slap bang in the middle of another debate over what, in the spirit of the sport, should be deemed acceptable.
With penalties becoming an increasingly prominent factor in the modern game thanks to the relentless intervention of VAR, greater focus than ever is being placed on their award.
This weekend saw two in the Premier League that intrigued.
The first came at Anfield on Saturday evening, when Salah had the sole of his foot kicked by West Ham United's Arthur Masuaku and went to ground with a yelp.
Referee Kevin Friend, after brief communication with his assistant, gave the penalty, which Salah then scored to equalise as the Reds went on to win 2-1.
Was it a soft award? Undoubtedly. Did Salah make the most of it? Definitely. Did the replays do him few favours? Of course.
But there was definite contact in the area. And Salah knows from experience that being manhandled inside the penalty box is no guarantee a foul will be awarded if he attempts to play on.
By going to ground, he forced the officials to make a decision. Then it was up to VAR to check, after which there could be no arguments
Put simply, the challenge from Masuaku wasn't one that VAR would have called a penalty had the on-field officials not spotted it. But there was sufficient contact to mean VAR had no option but to go along with the decision of Friend.
So to the following day and Tottenham Hotspur's home game against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Harry Kane was adjudged to have been fouled by Adam Lallana on the edge of the area by referee Graham Scott, with VAR then ruling the offence had taken place on the line and therefore should be a spot kick. Kane netted for the opener as Tottenham went on to win 2-1.
Was it a soft award? Undoubtedly. Did Kane make the most of it? Definitely. Did the replays do him few favours? Of course.
It could easily have been given as a free-kick against Kane for backing into Lallana, who was the only one of the two to even attempt a header..
While Lallana's eyes were on the ball, Kane could be seen looking at the Brighton player before backing into him and giving the officials a decision to make. The foul given, VAR was called upon only to determine exactly where the offence took place.
Yet the criticism of Kane - and there has been some - has been relatively muted compared to that of Salah.
The truth about the duo will be unpalatable to some.
But they were both doing exactly the same thing - attempting to bend the laws, and the application of them, in favour of their team in the hope of being awarded a penalty.
They both succeeded. And three points were gained as a consequence.
The only obvious difference seems one is Mohamed Salah, an Egyptian forward playing for Liverpool, while the other is Harry Kane, the England captain playing for Tottenham Hotspur.
Football has forever been about interpretation. Perception. And it forever will be.
