The Super Sunday matchup between Manchester United and Liverpool turned into a disappointing farce through the unprofessional conduct of two men—Steve Bennett and Javier Mascherano.
One of the more outrageous rumours I've heard in the aftermath of this fiasco is that the EPL instructed Bennett to ensure a Manchester United victory.
It is not clear why the league would want this when a win by Liverpool would have tightened up the title race and generated greater interest.
It is equally unclear why Bennett was in charge of what was arguably the most important single match of the campaign after his part in the Cole incident earlier in the week.
Keith Hackett, the general manager of the Professional Game Match Officials Board stated, "It was unfortunate that Steve Bennett didn't come in to say to Mike Riley that it was a red. I'm waiting to discover why the two of them didn't have the trust in each other to come to the right decision."
Why give him this assignment immediately after questioning his competence?
Bennett openly favored United and seemed to be deliberately antagonizing the Liverpool players. This behaviour is consistent with his headline-hunting history. It is likely he began the game hoping to strike the first blow in the battle against players questioning officials.
Mascherano seemed all too willing to take the bait. After receiving a yellow card for a poor tackle, he lacked the self-discipline necessary to carry on in the game. His claim that he simply asked what was happening was belied by his body language and facial expressions. It is possible he said nothing untoward to Bennett but his actions sent a very different message to all who watched.
After being sent off, Mascherano's antics were inexcusable.
Was the game in question fixed? Probably not.
Does the game in general need fixing? Absolutely.
The players need to show the referees more respect and the league needs to provide the players with officials who are worthy of respect.
Certainly, neither happened on Sunday.
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4 months ago
Well if it was fixed we are wasting our time writing on here, so I'd like to think that is 200% NOT THE CASE.
I don't believe the ref was favouring Man Utd either. Man Utd were playing better so obviously the other side were getting free kicks against them etc.
Anyway thanks for the article Bill.
from 4 months ago
Good to hear from you again Andrew.
I quite agree ManU was the better side but do not agree that should necessarily mean more bookings for their oponents. Being less skilled is not a punishable offense.
I also agree the game was not fixed and said so in the article. However, as in all things judicial. justice must just be done it must be seen to be done.
hmmm...this has got 'new article' written all over it. Cheers.
from 4 months ago
A good, controversial article. Just what I like to see! :)
I hear what you're saying Bill, but Steve Bennet, and most referees for that matter, know weeks in advance what matches they are officiating, and the schedule does mean that sometimes referees appear in more high profile matches more often than would normally occur. This is partly down to a shortage of officials in the linesmen and 4th official areas.
I agree that Steve Bennett had an agenda - all the referees were told, perhaps not as discreetly as would be liked, to make the weekend a "no tolerance" zone, but in my opinion Bennett was by no means biased, and he conducted himself as is befitting a referee.
Javier Mascherano, on the other hand, deserves to have the book thrown at him. Failure to leave the field of play after being dismissed for a second bookable offence is simply unacceptable behaviour.
"Being less skilled is not a punishable offence" - absolutely, but being ill-disciplined is, and that is where Manchester United were wholly more skillful than their opponents. I feel to simply castigate Liverpool would be going too far, especially as the villains of the refereeing piece have, once again, got away without suitable punishment.
I talk of Chelsea, of course. I can cite John Terry's grabbing of Boa Morte's throat as the first real indication this season that Chelsea were above the law, and the Cole saga has done nothing to dissolve that belief.
4 months ago
Simon, thanks for the comments and the vote...both are greatly appreciated.
Having read your profile and some of your articles it is good to have feedback from someone with expertise in the field.
I guess we will have to agree to disagree about Bennett's performance.
Regarding Chelsea, think of the controversy had Cole been as spectacular and effective as Drogba against Arsenal. We Gunners fans would have been screaming about the injustice of him being on the pitch.
from 4 months ago
I - as a referee - WAS screaming to high heavens about the injustice of him being on the pitch!!! Lol.
It makes my profession a joke, and it makes football look bad. I will say this - to see the first chelsea goal, with no less than three players offside when the ball is played in the first phase of the attack, amused me no end. Why that wasn't picked up on MOTD, I don't know. Probably because still none of us understands the rule (which keeps changing anyway).
Back to the matter at hand, I feel Bennett is being unfairly treated on all sides. In the situation, he played to the rules and made the correct decision. I will say this, it was by no means the best performance, but it was by no means a biased performance, nor would I say that his decisions affected the outcome of the match.
If players choose to act in an irresponsible way (as mascherano did, in the great scheme of things), then what can a referee do?
4 months ago
Simon, thanks for the comments and the vote...both are greatly appreciated.
Having read your profile and some of your articles it is good to have feedback from someone with expertise in the field.
I guess we will have to agree to disagree about Bennett's performance.
Regarding Chelsea, think of the controversy had Cole been as spectacular and effective as Drogba against Arsenal. We Gunners fans would have been screaming about the injustice of him being on the pitch.
4 months ago
Simon, thanks for the comments and the vote...both are greatly appreciated.
Having read your profile and some of your articles it is good to have feedback from someone with expertise in the field.
I guess we will have to agree to disagree about Bennett's performance.
Regarding Chelsea, think of the controversy had Cole been as spectacular and effective as Drogba against Arsenal. We Gunners fans would have been screaming about the injustice of him being on the pitch.
4 months ago
Steve Bennet's failure to recognise any fouls on Fernando Torres sent out the wrong message from early in the game. It seems he took the bait given by Fergie and Benitez in the build up to the game about "protecting skillful players" showing he is a weak referee who can be influenced and so, cue a controversial match.
from 4 months ago
Thanks for reading and commenting Chris. Controversy seems to be Bennett's claim to fame. I feel any referee who makes bigger headlines than the game should think very hard about what they are doing.
4 months ago
Well I have heard it all now.
Bennett on our side, what a joke.
Anyone who was there on sunday could see what was really going on, Mascherano acted like an idiot, constantly having words with the ref and then Rafa comes on tv stating that Mascherano is a total professional, yeah all professionals really act like that uh?
He knew what he was doing and Bennett had no alternative but send him off and now all the scousers are moaning and whinging (nothing new there) about how they were robbed and lost the day.
Talk about sore losers, look no further than Liverpool, its life mate if your players, act like pricks they deserve all they get.
Liverpool didnt turn up really on sunday so now this becomes the biggest excuse for them losing.
Same old scousers always moaning.
Nuff said.
from 4 months ago
Thanks for sharing Red. Actually, I agree ManU would have won the game without the advantage...they were one of my picks for the week. As a United fan you should be annoyed that Bennett acted in a way that allows the outcome to be debated.
4 months ago
But United fans are not debating this issue, its only the people who dislike us for our success, who are against us winning yet again.
And whilst you were good enough to reply back, I would just like to take this opportunity to correct on a further issue.
It is a well known fact here especially in the UK, that the only people who call us ManU, are usually people who hate us because any true United fans would never dare say ManU or Man Yoo, it is an insult to our great club and you will find, millions of United fans worldwide, take it as a great insult to be referred to in this way.
We are Man Utd, United or Manchester United but never ManU/Yoo but I know many who might read this, will probably be our sworn enemies/rivals, i.e The Scousers or Gooners, from them we expect to be called this but any serious writer should know the difference, that way he can write an unbiased account in his article, without actually taking sides,.
I am not sure who you actually support, if you are neutral then it might be better for you to correct this matter in further writings to stop many being offended.
Likewise the same would apply if you were referring to Arsenal, Chelsea or Liverpool, they again would also not liked to be called Scousers, Gooners or Rent boys, not that I give a damn about them but as I said, if this is meant to be a unbiased account, then such actions should be adjusted.
In my own articles I will refer to them as the nicknames I have already mentioned because afterall, I am only writing about our (Man Utd's)successes or failures, as they will do the same for their respective clubs and teams, that's how it works, so no worries.
Sorry for the rant but needed to say these things, look forward to more conversations in the not too distant future.
Regards.
United's Red Army.
from 4 months ago
Red, my apologies to you and anyone else who found my use of the term 'ManU' to be offensive. I was blissfully unaware this could be considered derogatory and certainly did not mean to insult. Thanks for pointing this out and I will certainly avoid future use.
from 4 months ago
Since when has this been a derogatory term? We hear Shearer and co say it on MOTD all the time, and I have yet to hear of them getting lamblasted for it. Not that I'm disputing that you find it offensive, I'm simply curious as to when and why this became offensive.
"Gooners" is certainly not offensive (I mean, half the emirates club shop has "gooner" written on it), and I have as yet to meet a person from liverpool who doesn't describe himself as a scouser (though it has, by its nature, been used offensively), whereas "Rent Boys" is a delightful term you've just given me for teasing my best mate - thank you!
However I will concur that it is probably best to describe the team as "United" in future.
4 months ago
Nobody likes a red card as then the outcome of the game can always be debated.
However, Mascherano was entireley out of line, when he received his second yellow card, he had no involvement in the play, yet still chose to run towards Bennett and argue, even after he was dismissed. That's where the sending off came. If you argue against that then idk what to think.
I personally believe that cards should be given out more frequently and punishments more severe. If it means 3 or 4 red cards in a game then so be it. Once players start to learn that their antics won't be tolerated, we won't have to deal with issues like this.
4 months ago
no penalty for rooney.. punishment for staying on his feet..
a booking for rio for a torres dive.. (note ferdinand didn't feel the need to complain to the referee)
mascherano sent off for two/three bad tackles; four displays of petulance.....
ref was not clearly biased unlike the author of the article
3 months ago
Fixed???
THen tell me y wasn't Ronaldo awarded the clear cut penalty when Carragher's trailing leg caught his??
Liverpool played their best for the first 20/25 min, and then it was all about United and that was a thoroughly deserved win.
This topic tho will act as an exhaast for the Gooner and Scousers to vent out their frustrations..lol..bt take my words..United continues this suyperb run of form to just 5 more games and they will keep the trophy back at their museum.
Glory Glory United..and it's good to be back where i onnce belonged! THankx simon for giving me a wake up call!!
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