Sections of the press today claimed that referee Lee Mason was put under pressure by the FA to write in his match report that had he seen Wayne Rooney swearing at West Ham, he would have sent him off.
Sir Alex Ferguson has today questionned the future of Mason’s career, claiming that he will now have to send off any player that he hears swearing near a TV camera.
There is anger among Mason’s refereeing colleagues who believe he was ‘used’ by the FA who wanted Rooney to be charged but wanted the referee to review his decision and come up with the conclusion that led to a ban.
“I don’t know if you can use the word fair any longer,” said Ferguson. “We put an appeal in. The lad has apologised for swearing but I don’t think we expected to get a result. It will bring us together. It is a plus for us. But the one I feel sorry for is Lee Mason. He has put himself in a terrible position. He has been put under pressure. There is no doubt about that. It is hard to imagine the referee would send a player off for scoring a hat-trick. But he has now put himself in the spotlight. If he doesn’t send a player off for swearing the question will be, has he got double standards. It is a very difficult position the lad is in. I feel for him. I really do. I don’t know where his career is going to go now. I think he was put under pressure.”
Man Utd News 24/7
This headline should read: Ref put under pressure just as the mirror reported this morning: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Exclusive-Referees-have-revolted-against-the-FA-for-using-Lee-Mason-to-write-a-report-so-Manchester-United-s-Wayne-Rooney-could-be-charged-for-swearing-article721116.html
Once again its the F.A. vs Man Utd.
Somehow I doubt those reports. Nobody, not even the FA can be that stupid and hope to get away with it. If true, do I smell a civil suit?
I don’t get this. What did Mason change in his match report? Anyone knows? All the FA wanted was Sky’s camera footage.
@Costas: masons report said he’d have sent rooney off if he knew he cursed into the camera
The mirror (a fine publication) states that Mason was squeesed to include this in his report
if this can be proven then theres grounds for an investigation of collusion between the FA and the refs to negatively affect united diciplinary cases, that would be fun.
It is unprecedented for an english ref to put such a statement in his report. Several statements from the FA indicate that no charge could have been brought unless the statement was present in the match report. Finally, the actual charge. The charge was for swearing. Not for swearing at a camera, as is being stated in the press. The charge is for swearing. Lee Mason must go. He has been influenced by political forces outside the game itself. That is all that can be said .
I’ve had the feeling all week that there was some subplot to this … not the usual ABU shit, but something that didn’t quite smell right, and was a bit tatty around the edges…
But get this: even now that some referees are saying Mason was out under the cosh to write that in his report, the man they feel sorry for is Mason — not Rooney, who has been singled out and made a scape-goat and will now miss two matches, one of them a semi-final at Wembley against our most bitter rivals, and not United, either, who will now have to cope without their number one player for those games. Bastards, the lot of them.
Oh, and morning lads. Me and the missus driving down to Monterey later today for the weekend, probably won’t be on here much for a couple of days…
JAVIER HERNANDEZ HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR THE PFA YOUNG PLAYER AWARDS
I am so happy I had to let everybody know.
its hard to believe the fa would go this far if its true has to border on illegal.have a nice trip stateside
The Telegraph have now picked up the Hargo story. Could be interesting.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/8435609/Manchester-United-consider-offering-Owen-Hargreaves-a-new-one-year-contract.html
they charged because they have a Respect campaign to protect the ref, And now they making their ref write what they want. Respect?
FletchTheMan has got it spot on. The FA can only act upon what the Ref has wrote in his match report and I doubt Lee would of even bothered about anything about the swearing if there wasn’t he hyperbole that surrounded it.
I also love how all the ex-ref’s, who have got jobs in papers, are all bleating about how unacceptable it all is. Yet have never sent off a player for swearing and even admit to hearing it and not dealing with it.
Load of all shit. But I like the way Fergie has turned it around and made it a siege mentality.
Speaking of siege mentality – Like the way Terry is crying about everyone is against Chelsea not winning the Champions League. Uefa must of put Mr Sheen polish on his boots before he took that penalty in Moscow. More cunt mentality than siege mentality
It wont matter much he will get rewarded in a manner similar to Wiley who was unfit as stated, retired shortly after and promoted to be in charge of training referees.The big unanswered question is Bernsteins input in regards to the penalty ie the second match ban which favours his team how come no panel report and breakdown of the vote is it really a Kangaroo court.Not acceptable,nothing to hide then publish.
Fletch … right … I have been out on the mainstream newspaper blogs saying this all week: the charge was not for swearing at a camera or on TV. That isn’t mentioned anywhere in the FA’s own reports on its own web site. Yet people still persist with this nonsense that WR10 was charged for a breach of the FA’s guidelines on media etiquette. Why? Because it allows them to ignore other incidents that would otherwise be obvious double-standards. Let me explain…
There are two sets of rules that the FA could use against Rooney. One is the general FIFA Laws of Football, which we all covers what happens during a match. The other is the FA’s own Handbook, which has a much wider scope. It covers everything from transfer regulations to press conferences etc.
As far as I can tell, Rooney was charged under the FIFA Laws, specifically the one about offensive language. Very early in the week, one of the papers mentioned that Mason’s report had said he wasn’t aware of the incident but if he had been, he would have acted. That’s an important clue. Remember the “elbow incident”, there was that whole argument that the FA can only take action after a match if the ref says he did not see the incident? That’s what happens under the FIFA rules.
That’s why what Mason said in his report was critical, because without that, the FA couldn’t have charged Rooney under the FIFA rules. They would have had to charge him under their own media rules, but that would have opened a whole new can of worms. The FA Handbook covers incidents outside the game, like press conference, whereas the FIFA rules only address what goes on within the game itself. The FA rules also cover not just players, but managers, club officials and fans too. So under FA rules, if they acted against Rooney for saying fuck, then probably everyone in the stadium was in breach of their rules about offensive language. Not only that, but under their rules, they could not have ignored post-match press conference outbursts like that by ‘Arry Redknapp (told a reporter to fuck off live on air) or Micah Richards (said fuck live on air). In fact, I don’t know if anyone has ever been charged under the FA rules. It’s not hard to see why they would not want to go down that path.
Charging Rooney under the FIFA rules allowed them to ignore all that, but to do that, they needed the referee to say (a) he didn’t see/hear the incident, and (b) that if he had heard it, he would have acted.
So yeah, this story about pressure on the ref has definitely got legs.
WHOA United4eva you have a GOLDMINE article right there. if that can be proven. the FA is in deep shit. OHHHH THIS IS GETTING INTERESTING. WHOOOOO!!!! i hope we can prove this beyond reasonable doubt.
Jeff Winter calling for 8 or 9 games? WTF is Jeff winter smoking. This isn’t park football you idiot. I know you hate manchester United and keep focusing on us. You should focus on how to save your life from the shit you have put it in. You are extremely fat and the fat could kill you if you aren’t careful. SMH. what an idiot.
Jeff Winter’s just a cunt. He’s only saying shit to keep himself in the headlines, because as a “media pundit”, his personal income depends on causing controversy.
@jay:
Don’t be too hopeful mate. ABUs gonna pick Wilshere over him. The fact that Giggs won his first PFA award last year should be testimony to this!
I wish Rooney could do a Cantona and walk up to each and every member of the FA and call them an imbecile. That will probably end his England career and earn him a lengthy ban but it’ll be worth it!
who the fuck would get banned for 35 days for swearing whilst playing ‘park football’, the blokes lost the plot.
I’m getting slightly nervous about the semi-final now. But at least we’ll have a fresh and raring to go Rooney for the fa cup and champion league finals!
I can almost see the headlines now – “Worst Team Ever To Win A Treble”
Jeff Winter Ha Ha Ha, he’s worse than that copper who said he would have arrested Rooney if he was in Wolverhampton, look at me, look at me, I used to a ref me yah no!!!
matt … yeah, once can almost the copper (almost!), a small man who has worked himself into a position that seems to have some authority but in the greater scheme of things is just a small deal, now wanting to get himself noticed. But Winter’s a media whore, spreading his legs for whoever’ll pay the most for the pig swill that spews out of his gob, an arrogant son of a bitch with absolutely nothing to be arrogant about.
Another prick who insists on calling SAF Fergie, which is a whole lot different to Dalglish because contrary to popular belief these two respect each other and go back a long way. What me me laugh about Winter was he’s tried to up the ante higher than anyone else just in the hope he’ll get some media appearance fees (talksport today no doubt) I mean 8 or 9 matches ffs what a total fucking clown, I’ll bet all his ex colleagues are laughing their cocks off at the knob. Just another undeserving cunt feeding at the ABU trough.
Jeff Winters best friend is his mirror.
United have confirmed Red Nev will be an ambassador for the club. He’s gonna be a busy man.
Do you mean the ones in the fun house that him look slimmer willie
@gerkeo Thanks mate. I didnt know the full details. What a selective club of cunts is the FA. I hope Rooney’s absence isn’t costly because I am going to wish stuff on them that I haven’t even wished on the CLLC
cannot think of a better ambassador than rednev, we should get him to go down to every united youth/under 18′s game and shout at the players before, during and after the games.
Sky Sports News showed other Premiership Managers views on the Rooney incident. Harry Redknapp: ‘I didn’t expect him to go after a camera and start swearing into it’. What the fuck are you talking about you beetroot face cunt? The cameraman followed him which prompted the outburst. I know you are the media darling and love being an attention seeker, but do yourself a favour and shut the fuck up. Why don’t you concentrate on your own team and see if you can go out of Europe with whatever dignity you have left. CUNT.
Matt – Yeah!
Kings – like STR posted the othe day. YouTube that cunt ‘arry and you’ll see him swearing on an interview..not just once.
Can someone on ROM recall if any official sanction came down to WR10 for swearing into a camera at the WC last year. The Independent has a statement that suggests there might have been. I recall a discussion in the press at the time, but don’t think there was anything of a reprimand. While I agree footballers should watch their language my feelings of aggrievement in this case have stemmed from my sense of a lack of precedent. As well as a sense that we are only talking about this because it is United. Has WR10 been reprimanded before?
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/fa-takes-hard-line-with-rooney-to-boost-flagging-respect-campaign-2264816.html
Rai – Yeah saw those clips mate. In one of those clips, the interviewer was nearly in tears after he told him to fuck off. The cunt’s middle names are ‘double standards’. He gets on the moral high ground about what Rooney did, even though he has been guilty of swearing himself. He blatantly taps up other clubs players, mentioning their names in public, but if there is any rumours of interest in any of his players, he gets on the defensive. He’s a fucking cunt and despise him.
There was once a fat fuck called Jeff
who was one of footballs top refs
Now he’s eaten the pies
tells loads of lies
and lives on his own drinking meths.
Dont know if this works
Lads. Scott,
can I suggest this for the next “this is how it feels to be city”? Its the 8th comment down. Now dont get me wrong, it is bad when something happens on the pitch that ends a players career (pool player, chav player, city play, and the rest) but to blame your downfall on one player not being there any more is a joke. United won a few things (i think but cant remember
) without big players that we have lost, Keane, Ruud, Ince, Beckham, Ronaldo, Robson, Cantona. So Mr. Samik, Man City Fan, London (whats the deal with a Londoner following City anyway I taught yous said Londoners were United fans!!) United have lost many a good player over the years but we get over it as its the past and what matters its the now and future (which is red!!!).
http://www.football365.com/mailbox/story/0,17033,8744_6858549,00.html
Kings – His ego has grown this last year or so he really thinks he’s one of the best managers out there. I was so happy to see Madrid destroy them and put them on their place. It’s ok beating an ageing Milan side but they bottled it when it mattered. Cunts the lot of them
Yeah but I still want the twitching cunt to get his act together and stop City finishing 4th which is now thier only route back into the CL
Gotta love SAF. Pressure now firmly on the refs to take action when anyone swears — and if they miss it you can bet that he’ll be pointing it out post game.
http://martin-unitedthoughts.blogspot.com/
I don’t even listen to Harry anymore that fuckface. He’s still gotta beat Arsenal and Stop shitty though. After that he can fuck himself.
Also let us make on thing clear. Wayne Rooney was not banned because sweared into a camera. He was banned for misconduct on the field PERIOD. So if someone on the camera is caught swearing EVEN if we cannot hear him you can read his lips and it STILL constitutes misconduct on the field and so whoever is caught swearing SHOULD be reprimanded. The F.A have put themselves in this shit and now they will see how stupid they are.
SECONDLY what does this have to do with respect? Who exactly was Wayne Rooney disrespecting? Was not referring to the ref , was not referring to ANYONE in the stands was not referring to ANYONE at home not referring to ANYONE on the pitch. so how is that undermining their respect campaign? That was clearly in the heat of the moment. He just did something monumental and couldn’t hide the overwhelming joy inside. EVERYONE has used swear words when they just too happy to keep quiet. They just feel like jumping around. It’s that burning desire in all of us including the bastards in the FA. There is no legitimate basis for charging Wayne Rooney and that’s that. If you had charged anyone else prior to this for swearing then this ban would have been ok but this is the first time in the HISTORY of the premier league that anyone is being charged for swearing at no one in particular.
Seriously guys, swearing “into the camera” has got nothing to with it. He wasn’t charged with “swearing into the camera”. You can confirm this by reading the FA’s own reports on its own web site. The charge was simply and solely for using “offensive and/or abusive language”. And there’s a very good reason for that: that is the only charge that can be laid under FIFA rules.
I know I am going on about this, but it really fucks me off, because they have singled out Rooney and it is a clear double-standard. Cameras and microphones and live broadcasts ain’t got nothing to do with it.
Under Law 12, the use of “offensive and/or abusive language” is a “sending-off offense”. The target of the language doesn’t matter, whether it’s the referee, an opposing player, or even one of your own players, or no-one in particular, TECHNICALLY, it’s a red card. If you mishit a kick and do a big air-swing in front of an open goal, and you say to yourself, “fuck it!”, TECHNICALLY, if the ref hears you, that’s a red card. If, while walking back up-field, one of your teammates runs over and has a friendly dig at you (“fucked that up, didn’t you?”), and the ref hears it, then TECHNICALLY, he should get a red card. Because under Law 12, the context doesn’t matter.
But until now, that has NEVER been enforced. Until now, it was only ever enforced if you swore at an official, or maybe at an opposing player, and even then, it would only be in rare cases that you’d get a red card. Otherwise, referees didn’t bother.
But now, in their one-eyed zeal to nail Rooney and United, the FA have imposed a new interpretation: in future, any use of the word FUCK, for any reason, must be punished. Otherwise, it’s a double-standard. And I am waiting for the day that happens, that someone gets sent off not for swearing at a referee or another player, but just for swearing, period. What a joke that will be, if it happens. And what a joke that will be if it doesn’t happen, too.
Like I said, it’s got nothing to do with cameras and shit. That only came into it as a means for the FA to lay the charge. Once Mason said he didn’t hear it, and that he would have acted if he did hear it, than the FA were able to use the video as evidence of the offense. That’s all.
it’s fun to see that in other countries the players can curse because everybody knows the adrenaline is pumping, in the heat of the battle they have to be able to let of steam…
f.ex in the swedish hockey league they interview the players between periods, and the twats at the fa would probably shit them selves if they heard what they say. its all fuck this, the ref is fuckin idiot, the bloddy puck was the fuck not in the fuckin net, and so on…. especially at the play offs.
the emotion has to be present, otherwise we could watch robots or a big screen with fifa 2011…
fuck everybody. no matter what you throw at us, we can take it, coz we’re united!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1374910/Gary-Neville-blasts-FA-Wayne-Rooney-ban.html
Go on Red Nev, you tell them stuffed suit cunts!
Time to sit back
We have Gary Neville to kick ass
Mike Summerbee I’d be scared very scared
And that goes for every abu fucker!
Rio and Piers Morgan are in a war of words on twitter, lol.
Costas … yeah, Rio is giving him a right spanking.
“I really don’t know how u stayonyourfeet with them boobs pulling u forward fella…suppose ya big weighty bottom balances the load!! OMG”
Costas, Cheers mate.
Pray, do tell! Give us the details man!!!!
Signed Your typical twit Challenged Red (twitless? maybe)
Whats Rio arguing with that insignificant cunt for? Switch It to Lily Savage, Rio!
I’d really like to hear Tim Howard’s fucking thoughts on these developments…..
@Fletch
Stateside gave you an example. I don’t know if I can gather all the tweets. They ae just basically going back and forth about the same stuff. Piers calls Rio sikcnote and illiterate while Rio says he has big boobs, lol. Here are Rio’s tweets:
@piersmorgan oh well done u r back from your belly+moob watch!! Are we in an iQ test here you cumberland sausage?!
@piersmorgan where u gone I aint finished slapping the twitter life out of you..I bet your in the mirror like “are my boobs really that big”
@piersmorgan b4 I go what size bra you buying at the moment, you could do with a push up bra as I don’t want ya boobs resting on that belly!
@piersmorgan your boring us now…tedious banter, goodnight!
Seriously though @piersmorgan you get a Sweat on tucking your belly in your jeans!!
@piersmorgan u couldn’t run+join in a celebration anyway…with all them chins flapping about you’d fall over…. #stayonyourfeet fella!
@piersmorgan got to celebrate #winning …….congratulating+avin iiiiiit with my team mates when we score is the way we do it we r #winners
@piersmorgan have u seen the footage from the tunnel….then the result….says it all!!
(the last two tweets were a response to Piers saying Nev, Keane and Rio were shitting themselves in Viera’s presence!)
@piersmorgan u should have more followers than all of us with the show u have and all those viewers u go on about!!
@piersmorgan u can’t take anyone associated with Man utd down fella….plus its imperative you #stayonyourfeet so chill!
@willie
Believe it or not, Savage is on Rio’s side on this! They are both taking shots at the cunt.
Costas – Ha ha, is that so? Says It all, when Lily Savage is on Rios side lol.
Should we get through to the champions league final.How many of the Barca/Real players are likely to be missing against us.I don’t know how many of them are currently on a yellow but I would imagine when they play their Two ties against each other it will be raining cards with so much at stake for both clubs.I’m guessing a minimum of two and that will be Bonus.for us.
have been reading all that on twitter even alan sugar digging at the dick morgan now . come on rio give that twat some stick. i bloody hate morgan god knows why anybody watches him on tv.
Maybe I should start my own twitter feed
What do you think Reds
Scary thought
If I started a twitter feed I’d have a field day with the ABU media
@MG
Definitely. Although you’d have to restrict your philosophies to 140 characters.
@willie
Those were some of Savage’s tweets:
@piersmorgan gotta say though your show Is good only 400,000 viewers /listeners behind my @bbc606 keep it up pal , love your work !
@piersmorgan I’m suprised you can fit behind that bgt desk now ! Don’t they have gyms over there !
@piersmorgan mate rub some Vaseline on your nipples cos your trouser belt must be rubbing on them !!
I don’t think that Rio and Savage ever had a real animosity other than that league cup game.
Carlton Cole has been charged by the FA for comments he made on twitter. Watch out Rio!
i take it back, based on Rio’s tweet, if Nev is anything like him skysports could be beautiful again. Might i add that Rio is now my very own United Spokesman on twitter.Love it!!!!Thats right Rio you tell ‘em, We’re WINNING
Is England under a dictatorship regime?
willie- It’s brilliant banter, Rio’s giving it to that idiot left, right and center. Along with Alan Sugar and Savage lol.
Fuck me, I’m slow.
Sugar, Savage and Rio tag team lol.
Costas
Damn!
140 words – what the hell – i’m always ready for a challenge
@MG
Sorry. It’s 140 characters. As in 140 letters.
Fuck me-they`re all having a pop at Rooney on Have I got news for you…..that baldy smug fuck face cunt Ian laughing his ugly mug off…..Jack Dee,I used to like you,but alas you`re shit,so`s your little baldy fuckin` mate ….bunch of twats,you`re not even funny….and …and….it`s the fuckin` BBC….the same lot probably in with Gary “big-eared,crisp-munching-fuckin` retard” Lineker….get a grip…you really are a bunch of cunts…
he is heading for VRS.. The FA cunts shud be hanged in public with the ropes from the rent boys
@ anyone who knows….how do I get on twitter??? he he he….
can`t help but laugh @ sandi toksvig….is that really a human or summat? lol it looks like one of them little fuckers outta star wars….
Costas
Double damn
Could still do it though
Ha ha. Those rio comments are hilarious. Cheers costas. You tell him rio the posh public schoolboy toff cunt.
Jeff winter is a fat attention seeking geordie bastard. Always thought he was the tough guy on the pitch.
Fergie was very upbeat today and it was an absolute pleasue to hear him talking about us all being united and will be very difficult to beat. This is a siege mentality of epic proportions. I am fully expecting some teams to get a pasting the next few weeks.
Kings. Hello mate. Posted a response to yours on the sorry it wasn’t a pen thread.
@piersmorgan …I bet your in the mirror like “are my boobs really that big”
HAHAHA
When Joe Kinnear was at Newcastle he swore 52 times into camera and FA didnt fine or ban him for being such an upstanding role model.
Really looking forward to the game between Blackpool-Arse, the ref is Lee Mason…
I do wonder if swearing in french counts though??
King Eric – Morning mate. Yeah saw that reply. Top post mate. ‘Football head cunt’, quality, like that! Yeah it’s amazing that these no brain cunts get to do the top programmes, contribute absolutely fuck all and get away with talking total bollocks. He’s a fucking tool mate. Remember Euro 2008 when he was going around wearing a Croatia shirt, saying that he is supporting the country of his parents birth? Obviously wanted someone to support and get on the bandwagon with due to the absence of Ingerlund. Then in the 2010 World Cup he was getting all patriotic about England. Cunt.
Keys and Gray are the biggest pair of cunts I’ve ever had the misfortune of having to put up with over the last 20 years on Sky. So it’s appropriate that once they deservedly got the boot from Sky, they join another programme surrounded by people who fit their status – Total cunts. Yeah I heard about the comments on Hart. Do me a favour you pair of arse bandits, what the fuck has that little prick done to warrant any sort of recognition? The Bale plaudits are becoming more and more laughable. They are basing his merits on those two performances against one of the most overrated full-backs in World Football, yet against Madrid he went missing. Van Der Vaart doesn’t even play for 90 minutes due to his lack of fitness, so fuck knows how he has been placed amongst the shortlist. Nasri, fucking hell, that snood wearing mincing little cunt has gone missing in the last 6 months they have plastered pictures of him on trees with a reward for anyone who can find him. Wilshere? Oh fuck off. Chokers the lot of them. Remember 1999 mate? Exactly the same, we had Keane who was a country mile ahead of anyone in the Premiership, yet that Loreal mincing cunt Ginola won both awards based on his ‘wondergoal’ against the mighty Barnsley in the FA Cup. This time around it’s Nani – a player who has contributed more than anyone and no one comes close, yet he has been overlooked for a player who everyone considers the favourite to win, a player who like Ginola before had one good game. As for Berbatov, what an absolute fucking piss take that is. Top scorer in the league and has the football ability that no one comes even close to matching. Hope this is a good omen mate. Let those cunts have their awards as long as we win what really matters. They can all go and fuck themselves.
Hi Kings, it must have been either an ESPN game or CL game but Townsend was commenting on Rafael saying he would reserve judgement until he’s played against someone like Bale completely forgetting he’d him in his pocket at PL game at OT a couple of weeks previous, what made me laugh on Weds was the various pundits talking up Chelseas chances at OT as if we where johnny foreigner, tools the lot of them.
Mattbw7 – Hi mate. He is a fucking ignorant cunt that Townsend. Yeah obviously overlooking that fact that Rafael had him in his pocket and Bale failed to score against us in either game. That cunt Matt Dickinson was saying how Chelsea would win as Vida is the weak link. Cunts the lot of them.
Super!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qib-s2SG_Uk&feature=related