Now forgive me if I'm wrong, but as far as I can see in the FA rulebook the laws of the game should remain consistent no matter which two teams are contesting a match, be it Arsenal vs. Chelsea or Nuneaton Burough vs. Tamworth.
Whilst this might seem obvious to you, apparently it does not appear to be the case amongst football's brightest minds and most influential figureheads.
Let me take you back to the 2006 Champion's League final - Arsenal vs. Barcelona in what had been built up as a clash of the two exponents of the 'beautiful game'. Things took a sour turn for the Gunners when Jens Lehmann committed a foul on Samuel Eto'o just outside the box after 18 minutes and, as the last man, he was duly given a red card.
As was plain from the replays, Lehmann had committed a foul and the laws dictated that he had to go. From their reactions the players knew it, Lehmann knew it and the referee knew it. However, this outcome infuriated Sky analyst and football 'expert' Andy Gray, who launched into a tirade against the referee and incessantly spouted the comment that the red card had 'ruined the game as a spectacle'.
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To return to my earlier point, no matter what the size of the match the laws of the game must remain consistent. For this not to be the case would be to turn the entire sport into farce.
Why has this re-entered my mind now? Two comments over the last week have caused me to bring this up again. Firstly, Alan Green on BBC Radio 5 Live (Britain's premier sports radio station) made the observation that refs were reluctant to book players in big semi-finals so that they would all be available for the end-of-season showpiece. Allegations that this was an initiative headed by UEFA were unsubstantiated rumour but raised nonetheless.
Secondly, Sir Alex Ferguson commented to Sky Sports that Chelsea's penalty in Saturday's title decider shouldn't have been given in "a major game like that", a phrase he labours in the interview. Now, to dispute the referee's judgement is one thing (he did that as well), but to make the point that the size of the game should influence whether decisions are given or not is frankly ridiculous.
I can only hope that comments like those made by Ferguson and Gray do not influence officials into believing this drivel, rather preferring to focus on the rules of the game and enforcing them no matter who is playing.
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8 months ago
I'll agree that Ferguson complaining in that manner is a bit cringeworthy. At the same time he has a very valid complaint about the plain-as-day penalty appeal on the corner when Ronaldo had just come on. Had that changed the tide of the game, do you think we'd be hearing Grant drone on about the same bollocks? I sure do. I'm sure Benitez would as well. It's all posturing from where I'm sitting.
from 8 months ago
You're right James I'm sure that it would be similar if the tables were turned.
Even so, I don't think anyone should be making that kind of statement, and its not just SAF who is guilty. It's just I heard that interview this morning and it made my blood boil.
Mind games or not, as far as I'm concerned no-one should be making reference to a match's magnitude when complaining about decisions.
8 months ago
There needs to be consistency when we're looking at decisions from the referee. If a handball from Carrick at midfield would have been called, then why wouldn't it be called later on if it happened to be in the penalty area?
8 months ago
too right - but so often this is not the case. How many times have you heard the commentator say "if that was in the middle of the park it's a foul, but it's too difficult a decision to give a pen".
8 months ago
There is a consistency, but it matters which part of the park it takes place in as the repercussions are different. There are different degrees of fouls, and some are what you call trifling and others are of a more serious nature. The tolerance for contact is lower in the middle of the park and higher in the penalty area simply because the result of the foul is much different in magnitude.
8 months ago
Every game during the EPL there is a player who complains about a foul, or offside etc. Just because a coach or announcer complains wont mean that it will change the referee's mind. I agree with you though that these comments were obnoxious. Also i think that there has to be consistency in the refereeing.
8 months ago
ALso i read your bio and it says about you are an interested in english, sports, and radio. I myself am intersted in that. I live in America though but i am very intense soccer fan and play on a very high level team in new york. What i am asking for is do u have any advice in making to where u made it today. By the way i am sorry for the own goal by riise tht must of killed a liverpool fan.
8 months ago
Completely agree Jonathan, good article.
It makes me wince when I hear a commentator say 'the ref has to take this or that into account'. No he doesn't. The only things the referee has to take in to account are the Laws of the game, what he or his Assistants have seen, and occasionally weather conditions. Thats it. End of story. Everything else is completely irrelevant perfection is for every game to be refereed the same way. Not different decisions for the same offence just because it is a cup final or a big game.
If a player gets banned and misses a final, or sent off in a final, thats hard for him, but guess what, he should have thought about that before getting booked/sent off!
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