Has any Football Association campaign fallen so flat as the recent “Respect” initiative?
If one has, it is certainly hard to remember it. Imploring players and managers alike to show more reverence for their officials, the initiative aimed to highlight the difficult job the men in the middle do, and help to make it easier.
Unfortunately, it has only served to shine a spotlight on the many poor decisions referees make, and put them under even more intense pressure.
External factors haven’t helped. Last week’s ruling by Lord Griffiths that West Ham owe Sheffield United £30m—on the basic acceptance that Carlos Tevez single-handedly (and illegally) kept the Hammers in the Premiership—has only served to heighten the scrutiny on every errant refereeing decision, with each one potentially deciding final league positions.
But the referees haven’t done themselves any favours either. If Stuart Atwell’s infamous “phantom goal” (awarded to Reading against Watford in the Championship) last week wasn’t bad enough, Rob Styles’ terrible penalty decision this weekend, for Manchester United against Bolton, certainly was.
Styles’ decision to award Cristiano Ronaldo a penalty, after J’Lloyd Samuel had clearly won the ball, is not the first important mistake the man from Hampshire has made.
He was also responsible for the incredulous decision to award Florent Malouda a penalty at Anfield last season—after the Frenchman had jumped over the ball and into a non-plussed Steve Finnan—and also the spotkick given to Birmingham at St. Andrews—after Manchester City’s Sun Jihai had (fairly) won a 50-50 tussle with Gary McSheffrey.
Arguably, all three decisions had a critical impact on the outcome of their respective games.
The disappointing thing for Bolton fans is that Rob Styles will suffer no punishment for his error, and will be in charge of a Premiership game next week—the unfortunate sides being Hull and Tottenham.
The annoying thing for everyone else, however, is that even if Styles had been punished, it would have likely been with a simple one game demotion. Compared to the punishment for a player’s error in any game (a red card and three match ban, for example) and it hardly seems fair.
Compare it to a manager’s potential career implication after an unjust defeat, and it certainly isn’t.
If the FA really want respect for their referees, then there needs to be far more accountability. Tacit admissions of guilt, after the outcome has long been decided, are not enough.
One of many examples of this double standard happened in Everton’s recent clash at Stoke. During the game, Stoke defender Leon Cort clearly handled the ball in the box, under no obvious pressure.
Alan Wiley, official in charge of the match, initially awarded a penalty—then inexplicably changed his mind and gave a freekick on the edge of the box.
Replays conclusively proved that a penalty was the correct decision.
Incensed by this error, Everton manager David Moyes complained vociferously to the fourth official. For his—completely accurate—criticisms, he was sent to the stands.
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