Poor refereeing mistakes decided the Premiership title in 09-10, with costly decisions in the Manchester United vs Chelsea games handing the eventual champions points they wouldn’t have otherwise got. With United finishing just one point off the top, they would have been crowned champions had the referee been able to use technology to make his decision.
Bad decisions happen every week but it is the decisions that go against you against your biggest rivals, in the “six pointers”, which make the most difference.
At Stamford Bridge, United dominated Chelsea, but ended up losing 1-0 thanks to a John Terry goal. The freekick was awarded when Darren Fletcher cleanly won the ball from Ashley Cole, Wes Brown was being fouled in the box when the cross came in and Didier Drogba, who was interfering with play, was offside. Down at the other end, Wayne Rooney had been incorrectly flagged offside when one on one with Petr Cech as well as the referee waving away a stonewall penalty for Antonio Valencia.
Oliver Kay, The Times: They [United] had been the more assertive team throughout, defending diligently and attacking with purpose when the opportunity arose, and would surely have claimed something from the game, quite possibly a victory, had not the two big refereeing decisions gone in Chelsea’s favour.
Had the match ended goalless, Martin Atkinson, the referee, would have ended up with a stern rebuke from Ferguson for refusing to award United a penalty in the fourteenth minute, when Antonio Valencia tumbled after appearing to be impeded by Terry. As it was, the United manager was left in a fury, deeply unhappy both with Atkinson’s award of a free kick, for what looked like a fair tackle by Darren Fletcher on Ashley Cole, and with the manner that Wes Brown was obstructed by Didier Drogba when the ball was whipped in from the left-hand side by Lampard.
The game was transformed when Fletcher was penalised for his challenge on Ashley Cole. As Lampard swung in the free kick, Terry and Anelka attacked the ball with greater conviction than any of United’s defenders, although Brown had an excuse, having been felled, deliberately or otherwise, by Drogba.
The Guardian minute-by-minute: Wayne Rooney is played in and the flag goes up, with the striker entirely on his own and clean through, 30 yards from the nearest outfield player and 20 yards from goal. But Ashley Cole, on the near side, is clearly playing him onside. Bad – and crucial – decision.
At Old Trafford, with the score 1-0 and United in the ascendency, Chelsea went 2-0 up thanks to a goal scored by Drogba, who had received the ball in an offside position.
Mistakes of the referee will continue to decide titles, relegations and cup knock-out until technology is introduced to the game. It is embarrassing that a sport worth so much money all over the world is in the dark ages where this is concerned, miles behind the likes of tennis, rugby and cricket.
Pathetic arguments like “fans like to debate about decisions in the game” hold no weight with me. As a fan, I would rather the right team won, whether that was United or otherwise, than the team that got lucky with the ref. Sir Alex Ferguson has often talked about the luck needed to be successful, but that should stand within the laws of the game, not the inability of humans to make the correct decision. It should be one team against another, one player against another, with the referee making the game run smoothly, not influencing the result.
I watched Frank Lampard’s effort crash down over the line, less than a minute after England drew level against Germany, and like everyone else saw that the ball had clearly crossed the line. Decisions like that shouldn’t be an issue for technology but the failure to award that goal gives us a great argument. If linesmen and referees can miss such blatant decisions like that, and Carlos Tevez’s goal from an offside position against Mexico the following day, then what faith are fans and players and managers supposed to have in officials getting the tricky decisions right?
England went on to lose 4-1, Mexico went on to lose 3-1, but there’s no way you can account for what impact those goals had on the overall game. Whilst Germany were by far a better team in the second half, it is impossible to know how the second half could have panned out if the score was level at 2-2 and England weren’t throwing all their players forward to get an equaliser. How would the mentality of Germany been effected had they surrendered their 2-0 lead so quickly and easily? Equally, Salcido had hit the woodwork for Mexico and Guardado had been inches wide of the post before Argentina scored, so who knows what might have happened had it rightly remained 0-0 and Mexico were the ones to open the scoring?
It’s all ifs and buts, and it is these debates that Sepp Blatter uses as a reasons not to introduce technology, as if arguing the toss over decisions is justification to see the wrong team knocked out of the cup, win the league or get relegated!
Whilst the referee is always the target of our frustration it is quite refreshing to consider that however much of a wanker we believe him to be at the time, chances are he genuinely was trying to make the right decision. He may appear blind to us, given that we can see the foul/handball/goal/corner from the stands, but he is only human, and like the rest of us, capable of making mistakes.
England’s own representative referee in this summer’s World Cup, Howard Webb, has welcomed technology to the game today.
“I’m open minded about anything that makes us more credible as match officials,” he said. “Whatever tools I am given I will use them to the best of my ability, and I will use all the experience I have to try to come to the correct decisions.”
We’ve all heard plenty of debate on this recently and Gary Lineker has voiced the opinion I have agreed with for some time. The biggest argument against using technology is the notion that it will slow the game down. Yes, more than the idiot who tries to hide the ball up his jumper when it’s kicked in to the crowd. Yes, more than the cheat rolling around on the floor when he hasn’t been touched. Yes, more than the goalkeeper taking long, slow strides back away from the ball in preparation for a goal kick when his team are protecting a narrow lead with not a lot of time left to play.
However, if each team is allowed to challenge just three incidents a match, whether that be goal line, a foul in the box or even an offside decision, then that will add hardly any time to the game. The replays of major incidents are up on the screens within seconds of them occurring and more often than not a quick decision can be made. Did the ball cross the line? Yes it did. Was the player offside when he scored? Yes he was. Did the defender take the striker’s legs away from him? Yes he did. The Mexican players had seen the replay of Tevez’s goal on the big screens before they had even got back to the centre of the pitch for the restart!
“I have expressed to them apologies and I understand they are not happy and that people are criticising,” said Blatter of the English and Mexican FAs. “We will naturally take on board the discussion on technology and have first opportunity in July at the business meeting.”
Will anything come of those discussions? It’s hard to imagine that whilst Blatter is still in charge of FIFA that anything will be changed, with him yesterday admitting he “deplored” the idea of technology in football.
However, with so much at stake in football, by which I mean the feelings of the fans, the effort of the players, the hard work of the manager, as well as the money, it’s ridiculous to think it is left down to chance.
To give a very real example, take a look at Sheffield United in the 2006-2007 season, with them finishing on the same points as Wigan and one point behind Fulham. They were relegated because their goal difference was just one goal worse off than Wigan’s. They haven’t returned to the top flight since. But a place in the Premiership is said to be worth £90m to a club and Sheffield United were literally one goal away from securing that. Are you telling me that all the decisions evened out that season? That over 38 games, there wasn’t one more goal, offside call or penalty decision in Wigan’s favour? It is these small decisions that define the result and therefore the success of a club. The fate of football clubs, particularly in this day and age when the likes of Leeds and Pompey are going under, is dependent on them getting the result they’ve played for, not the result given to them by the referee.
I would like to think that I can one day laugh with my children and grandchildren about how I watched football in an age without video technology, the same way I’ve laughed with my parents over them growing up without a television or telephone, but if Blatter remains in charge of FIFA, you have to wonder which generation will finally get to welcome the technological advancements football fans and clubs deserve.
“Let it be as it is and let’s leave football with errors,” Blatter said in 2008. No, please, let’s not.
—————–
Blatter: A Hypocritical Xenophobe With Several Hidden Agendas
What do the press make of our robbery at the Bridge?
The Shocking Truth Behind Blatter’s Foreign Quota Myth
Rio Has A Pop At Blatter
Man Utd News 24/7
Totally agree – it is not good enough to argue that the eventual scores were 3-1 and 4-1 and I am tired of hearing that argument given. a goal changes the whole perspective of the game and as you rightly point out lots of different outcomes were possible if the right decisions were made in the first place.
Bring it in please !!!!!
Technology would have won us the league title . Drogba’s goal would have been surely dissallowed if there was an option for video replays.
We NEED technology in the game, we are in the 21st century for God’s sake! And these decisions (red cards, penalties) can be made in a few seconds.
Funny how the Spurs goal against United that Roy Carol managed to scrape away from well inside his own goal isn’t mentioned at all in this article. Probably one of the most blatant goal line injustices ever seen.
I like the three decisions to be contested rule. Will not slow the game as only managers cannot contest every decision and will reverse poor decisions in matches.
People like Blatter and even Motson (who stubbonly argued against technolgy even after the decisions against England Mexico) need to be put to pastures and more forward thinking people put in place.
Fuck off FIFA, seriously. Players and managers protesting against an unfair decision, surrounding the ref and officials, takes longer than looking at video replays, and then changing/giving a decision, which can’t be argued with as there’s clear evidence. Technology is in every other sport in the world, why can’t be introduced in football, the most popular sport in the world? It’s about bloody time now.
The tevez goal was given after the ref ran to the lines man and the linesman wa talking to someone on the headset that is only set up to 4 people so he had to be talking to the 4th ref that watches the game on a tele, why was it given
Fletch against the Arse, champs league semi final, then misses the final as UEFA cannot even use the eyes in their heads to see he didnt foul.
Who knows what may have happened in the final had fletch played, but a big misstake made.
D – There are lots of decisions over the past 5 and a half years since Mendes that I haven’t mentioned. In fact, I’ve just focussed on examples from this past season. I would be here a long time if I was to point out every goal that shouldn’t have been given but wasn’t.
Goal line technology should be a no brainer.
As for other decisions, one can argue one way or the other endlessly. BBC’s big-ears may have a point by saying that a system like in tennis should be adopted giving each time a certain number of chalenges (let’s say 2 ) per half. It would probably take less time for the fourth or a new video official to review challenged incidents than the disruptions that are caused in every single match by players feinting injuries.
David Silva to Shitty Confirmed
Now City are building a decent squad with Silva, Tevez, Robinho, Yaya Toure
They are nailed on to finish fourth now after spending another £100m!
Technology has to be introduced and overrule the referee’s decision. In the Argentina-Mexico game, the linesman has seen on the big screen what has happened, he tells Rosetti, yet the goal is still allowed. Some refs are just on a power trip.
David Silva to City hey? That’s 2 wingers this week(Silva and Di Maia) that have just wasted the next 3-4 years of their careers.
Nice read. There is a blatant decision week in week out. In the last season (2009/2010) Birmingham City scoring a late gaol against Pompey in the FA Cup when Pompey was 2-0 up. The ball crossed the goal line and it was visible to everyone that it was a goal. It should have been 2-1 and who knows if Birmingham could draw the match. The ref disallowed the goal and claimed that the ball didn’t cross the line.
In PL match, Sunderland scored a goal against Liverpool, which have not stood. Bent’s shot hit a balloon and deflection caused a goal, the ref allowed and Sunderland eventually won the game. Though Liverpool were flops, who knows whether the match would end 0-0 draw?
In Champions League, where the refs decide the points, Øvrebø and company helped FC Bayern Munich to reach the finals while Fiorentina and Manchester United were defeated with the help of refs. In 2008/2009 Chelsea were knocked out of the CL because the ref thought Barca are the right team to qualify for the finals. Probably he didn’t want a rematch of 2007/2008 CL finals.
In FC Porto vs. Arsenal match, Fabianiski handled a back pass by Sol Campbell in the area. The ref did not allow Arsenal players to prepare, he blocked Sol Campbell and the Porto players quickly passed the ball and scored a goal with the help of the ref.
In January this year, in Arsenal vs. Bolton match William Gallas fouled M. Davies in the middle of the park the ref was there watching, Gallas passed the ball to Cesc Fabregas who scored a goal, and the Davies was taken off of the pitch.
In the beginning of the last season, Fletcher fouled Arshavin and handled the ball (two penalties in one) inside the penalty area in a match against Arsenal, the ref waved for play on and he later awarded a penalty for Manchester United. Many fans felt cheated in that match.
In the CL play offs last year, Eduardo Silva of Arsenal made a blatant dive against Celtic, the ref awarded a penalty for Arsenal and Arsenal went to win with a goal fest, though there were no contact between Boruc (Celtic keeper) and Eduardo.
French National team qualified for the world cup with the Hand of Henry.
Chelsea won the title with with the a lot of ref’s decisions.
Jamie Carragher hauls down players in regular basis, while Steven Gerrard is a serial diver and earns penalties and free-kicks.
In the World Cup, its usual to:
- Send off players because and opponent like Fernando Torres dived.
- Disallow goals because the ref and the linesmen were out of position.
- Award illegal goals because of poor officiating.
Nani and Valencia are both better wingers than David Silva. Fuck the creativity, I’d praise him if he managed to stand on his feet in the Premier League. Absolutely no threat to us whatsoever.
eastlands instead of valencia, what a joke
at least di maria might get to win something
yeah letdown of the year sponsored by bwin
Costas – That wasn’t a power trip. Because we don’t have technology in the game, a referee at a World Cup can’t all of a sudden use a replay on a big screen to make a decision – that would be even more ridiculous than not having any video refereeing! You can’t have decisions made by replay in one World Cup game and not in another.
Good morning all,
As an American I have a unique perspective on video replay as the NFL uses it constantly. Sometimes good, sometimes bad but the one constant is that it takes toooooooo long for them to go under the little black hood and then 3 minutes and a commercial break later a decision is made.
Futbol fans will not stand for that and they do not have too.
As GHTT points out, it appears that there was a conversation between the Ref and the AR and presumably the 4th official. (I hope not as the 4th should have seen that it was in but that is a story for him and his eye doctor if that is the case.) Anyhow, in that span of time, a decision could have been made that would have awarded the proper call. As someone pointed out, it takes longer for the players to mill around the ref and argue than it would take to make the call with the help from the 4th official.
In the case of the England goal, here is how I would envision video technology coming into play, ” shot happens, it goes in, looks dubious so the 4th official takes a quick peek at his monitor. In the amount of time it would take for him to do that, the goalie punts it up field, a couple of touches happen and the ref blows his whistle and signals for a goal.” Pretty simple in my book. Same for a goal scored in the offsides position. In the time it takes for the players (Drogba in Scott’s case) to celebrate an ill-gotten goal, the 4th looks at it and says, “no dice.” An indirect kick is awarded and game is on.
I think that all of this can happen in the span of time that it takes for the players to celebrate a goal, argue a call or a goalie punts the ball.
Let’s get with the 90′s FIFA and understand that people are now demanding that the right calls are made given the technology available. You are missing an opportunity to show folks that you are really listening and care about the outcome of crucial matches. I do not buy the argument that it is too expensive. Christ put another official out there like UEFA did for Europa Cup matches if you are worried about taking the human element out of the game. Won’t help on offsides but would on goals.
Here is to hoping that the they will listen. When is the next vote for FIFA President?
but Scott didnt one of the mexican league use an idea that if a player dives cheats etc the ref will ask if he did cheat if the answer is yes nothing is given and play gets on but if he lies the ref checks the incident afterwards and the player gets a 4 match ban, how would fifa allow that to happen in one place but not somewhere else
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTSycl0-r6w see the lino talking into his mike to either the 4th ref of the other linesman because thats all thats hooked up to them
@ Scott
Another fantastic read mate….
@ Costas….
ASpot on about the Argentina-Mexico game……The linesman and the referee surely saw what had happened on the big screen…why can’t they act like adults and own up to the mistake they made and disallow the goal….that was the most frustrating part about the entire incident…..
When Zidane could be sent off in the 2006 WC final after seeing the TV replay, why couldn’t the England goal be given or the Argie goal be disallowed?
And to top it all off, when the mexicans were protesting, that horrible cunt Heinze and the lying, money grabbing whore Tevez run up to the linesman and spread their arms in that disgusting fashion as if to say—-dare you to disallow the goal, we are coached by Maradona!
strange that they want expensive chip technology when simple cameras can show us everything we need to see… the world is just so stupid!
Completely agree Scott, Fifa and the FA etc. have completely let down the fans, players, teams and everyone else. Every big match now seems to be mired in controversy. Offsides, fouls, diving and more are ruining the game. We have the ability to fix it but we don’t, I just don’t see the sense in it.
Here are the things that should be introduced IMMEDIATELY after the World Cup:
1. As you suggested, a call system, three calls per manager, if they make a call and its wrong maybe they lose a substitute or something, that way we don’t get abuse of the call system
2. Goalline technology, there has to be some tech out there that can say if a ball went over the line or not.
3. Retroactive punishment. If you get tapped on the face or the shoulder or whereever and go down like you’ve been shot holding your face, screaming and flailing, you are a cheater. If you dive, you are a cheater. Cheaters need to be punished. The day after a match the referee should have to watch the match again on tape taking note of those who dived, cheated, faked an injury or maybe committed a foul unseen at the time. If you faked an injury, automatic 5 match ban. No appeal. If you dived, automatic 5 match ban. No appeal. Made a foul off the ball, well thats more discretionary but upto a 5 match ban. Lets see how many players go down holding their faces then once they’ve been banned a few times and missed crucial matches to cheat for an advantage for a half an hour
What do you guys think?
@Scott the Red
Faor enough, it opens a can of worms and looking at the GHTT video again, Rosetti’s hands are tied. I just wish that he took it upon himself to right a wrong there, instead of sticking to protocol. What’s the worst thing that could have happened to him? They sent him home anyway.
@Red Devil
Hi mate. The problem with this, is that not every football ground has a giant screen or some debatable decisions take too long to get sorted out. Here’s what I don’t understand: Why did they allow the tv screen to show the replay? I went to the finals of the Olympic Basketaball tournament in 2004 and they weren’t allowed to show the replays. The reason is obvious: You get the fans and most importantly the players riled up. However, if you allow replays on the screen like that, why not use them?
Ref couldn’t over rule linesman in that game, as he would have been using video technology.
I personally think the game should be left alone, as whether ur Sunday league or champions league, it all remains the same.
Where do u draw the line? Over the line, offside, penalty, foul, did he swear, did he look at me the wrong way?
It’s the human reaction of the game that makes it so unique
@ Scott
With regard to your post at 11:57, I am firmly of the belief that Zidane was sent off in the World Cup 2006 final after the referee saw the incident on the big screen…..otherwise why would they have taken so long and consulted so hard….even minutes, before actually brandishing the red card to him….
interesting… some want things to stay the same, others want technology, very divided…
i say use extra officials, who are allowed to watch camera views, to help refs out in certain decisions. seems so obvious and simple to me its unbeleivable! – that ref graham poll suggested this kind of approach
@ghht
i stand to be corrected but i think its because thats a whole different league whilst the world cup is 1 tournament. much like the referees behing the goals in europa league
i’ve been saying this for along time its a joke and a fucking disgrace theres no video replays with so much at stake.one of my biggest problems not having it and the refs having no repercussions for bad calls clearly encourages match fixing. i know top refs make over a 100k a year which is very good money but compared to the players making millions its peanuts.so if your part of a betting syndicate the person you’ll approach is the guy with complete control over the game,refs are human just like everyone else and i’m sure pleanty have money problems.i’ve said this in the past utd seemed to start getting blatant bad calls against them after sir alex called that ref unfit and fat and i’m sure its been proven that some refs are consistent with bad calls against the same teams year after year.its just wrong for one person to have the power to affect games with bad calls when its easy to remedy the problem.
huzi
thats my point mate why is there different rules all over the world be issued by the one set of people in charge
@ghht
no idea mate. but 1 things for certain. . .FIFA AND SEPP BLATTER ARE F*#@kED UP. theyve sent the refs home after their blunders, but the refs are human so they should not be blamed. fifa should get the blame for not introducing technology.
the question is, if the ref blows for apenalty and is then over ruled does the game restart with a drop ball? i mean i watched a villa game when the prem was tryin to get them in the CL a couple years back and they had a penalty given against them and it was over ruled from elsewhere because you could see the linesman listening on his earpiece while the ref waited for the linesman to tell him what he was being told, im for goal line technology but thats it, remember gallas’s goal against you lot and rio cleared it out the chased the ref even though it was about 2 yeards over the line lol, the offside rule might as well be taken over by a computer and have linesmen made unemployed if its all about technology, what if they dissalow a goal but its onside or call an offside when a player is one on one, and he is clearly on? the player cant get his chance back because of a tv replay
well if authorities wanted to discuss it I’m sure they could easily come up with criterias about how/when tv evidence is used and everything that goes with that… to dismiss it just by saying hypothetical situations is not logical.
I actually agree with Shak but just have it for goal line disputes. Leave the offsides etc as they are. The game will become too stilted otherwise.
The video technology thing has been introduced in another game(hockey) where the rules for the usage of this technology seemed childish and frankly there was a time when the ref allowed the consult of the technology at a time the other team were almost clear through on goal…
But i must say that the football at this moment is sort of the only game thats not plastic…
what i’m trying to say is that though there are howlers (refs) every now and then… there is always a continuity in the game…
Arguements against video technology are few
1) Slow the game: Well i agree with u Scott that it takes seconds to see it on the screen if it was offside or not, but what if there is maybe a penalty and the team holds the ball in a dangerous position? Does the ref stop the game to check the video or do others do it in a booth somewhere that telll him if its a penalty or not, (mind that this decision has to be take quick cause the team still has the ball and it hasnt gone out of play)
2) Football is same everywhere, thats the beauty of it; in the premier league, Botswana, Iceland, World cup or where ever. If video technology is being used in the world cup it has to bes used in botswana and iceland and in the lower leagues to.
I think that v.t works well in NFL but it does slow the game down and it is just one league.
3) It gives us something to argue about; is the most stupid argument ive heard and doesnt dignify a response.
4) how about all the small violations in the box, a little shirt pulling atc… are they always going to be penalties? We would probably have a lot more penalties than there are now.. I dont know if you watched the women european final tourniment, but there were women refs that gave 3-4 penalities a game.. it was just rediciulus, no calls were plain wrong as no one would have complaint if it were a free kick but still it was ruining the game.
But we have to know thar there are two seperate things we can argue about:
1) goal line detector with somekind of a micro chip in the ball.. That way you know if the ball is in the goal easily. that doesnt slow the game and it doesnt stop it and it doesnt change the sport. Either the ball is in or its not. U dont have to have it in Botswana or the lower leagues as it is just a small help for the officials.
2) Video tecnology: This one is harder because it will definatily change the game.. but i hate unfairness and just like in 2002 refs fuck up world cup. Im losing interest because their mistakes ar too costly. and it takes the fun out of the game. So things has to be done right…
Its hard being a ref so we need to make their job easier but v.t. is a dangerous road and people need to think this one through.
We have to keep on discussing this to find solutions..
football is all about human error,inclusion of emile heskey=human error, rob green human error, tevez’s goal=human error, if a striker misses a sitter its the same as the linesman making an error, but the ball over the line thing has to change because think about it, imagine if you had 3 or 4 of them in one game
yeah surely… what i’m saying is that the technology should not go beyond the goal line thing… i mean it shouldnt be used for checking fouls on the field which shold be the authority of the ref alone…..
It’d just kill the game if that happened…
@arsene wenger i think if the offside rule could be taken over by a computer similar to whats used in tennis that would be a huge improvement over a linesman most of them are never up with the play and offsides are one of the more consistent missed calls why would you be against a accurate call everytime i don’t understand that logic.
@ arsene wenger
I have to disagree with that football is a game of human errors as it is in my opinion game of brilliance
Ofcourse both players and refs make human errors, but errors are the bad things about football not the good thing..
…if the errors were the key factor my sunday league football team would be the greatest and i would be a world star.
less error=more popularity
more error=ruining the game (as it is no one comes too watch bad players and refs making a lot of human errors)
@arsene again your not making much sense by comparing a missed sitter to a bad ref decision a bad decision that could cost a team the game or ultimatley a trophy can be changed with very simple changes to the game which makes it much fairer a missed sitter nothing can be done about
Technology would be great but even if they had applied the rule like they have in the UEFA cup of having 2 referees behind the goal line both those controversies could have been avoided. Its not necessary to have it in the leagues but in a major tournament like the Champions league or the World cup it is a must
@Costas
Allright mate who is this Greek guy ‘Ninis’ thats in the papers today have you heard anything real at home ?
Its prob just paper shite.
The new Wigan signing Boselli, from Argentina said this;
“Juan played for Manchester United and Chelsea and has good knowledge of the English game,” he said.
“He told me it was the best place in the world to play your football and that it would be the best place for me as a player.”
Some days ago Veron himself lashed out on English football and said that it almost made him quit the game..
Funny..
Costas getting bombarded with Ninis questions every now and then. expect more in the coming days Costas. lol
I’m fairly sure it will come now after this world cup. Sepp knows that it will come someday but will he want to be the one who does it or will he wait for the next fifa president
Imagine this scenario when video technoloy is being used
United are playing Liverpool in the FA cup:
Rooney and Nani are through on goal rooney takes on Reina who appears to foul him.. the ball goes back to Nani who is in a decent shooting position,,
and the ref blows the wistle a penalty.. he checks the video and sees that he made the wrong call, Rooney just fell, he didnt dive and it wasnt a foul he just fell and it shouldnt be a penalty…
what next???
Who will get the ball? Nani was just robbed a decent chance!!
What would be the right thing for the ref to do in this situation… wait and see what Nani does before checking if it was a penalty..???
well what if Nani just passes the ball to the next guy an the game is in play for 5 minutes
will the ref check it than, (and if it was a penalty than everything is reversed?)
what if someone gets a yellow card or if Liverpool score in this five minutes… will that be reversed if the ref sees a penalty from five minutes earlier.
When should the ref blow the wistle and check the video??
More than willing to answer Ninis questions. I’ve only done it 100 times since yesterday.
@keano99
I wouldn’t read too much into it. This rumor only comes from one source. So far no one here has heard anything about it. He is a good player, but unproven in a tough league like the Premiership. Plus, the rumored amount of money seems a lot for him. Don’t see it happening.
Red Devil – nope he didn’t. It was not shown on the big screen. I was at the match and didn’t see what happened so I was stairing at the screen attempting to find out what happened. It was never shown.
Scott I agree and disagree. I do think Hawkeye technology could be used for deciding if the ball has crossed the line but beyond that I don’t like the use of replays in football. Challenges sound nice and in theory it would be quick but as I watch the NBA and NFL that have challenge systems it slows the game and stops the game sometimes for 3-5 minutes.
I think the reason we are seeing such dramatically bad decisions is the speed of the game has increased a lot over the last 20 years. I don’t think refs can keep up with the speed of play. I think the addition of goal line technology and the addition of more officials would help as much as replays. I think FIFA should adopt the by-line linesmen and I would like to see the addition of two more linesmen on the opposite side or even two refs on the field of play. I also think raising the linesmen up off the ground, if possible, would give them a much better view on what is and is not offside.
I do not think replays should be used to determine offsides as a lot of times the results are heavily inconclusive as offsides and fouls are subjective calls. I have a friend who brought up the fact that no matter how many times you look at the Dempsey goal against Algeria that was ruled offside it is hard to pin point exactly if he was or was not in an offside position using replay.
To be clear I am all for goal line technology and the addition of more officials. But to stop the game to look at replays up to 6 times a game with coaches being able to challenge calls on the field will mud up the game for me. Coaches will use it to waste time and get breathers for their players. Further, what will be challengeable? Each and every decision? If a ref spots a foul in the build up of a goal can he rule out a goal using replay? The NFL, NBA, and other leagues that use replay do not allow the refs to use replays to call fouls and I am also completely against that. It may get the call right but it is to big of a momentum changer and it could result in no one ever scoring because small fouls occur nearly every play.
I understand the want or need to get everything right but that is impossible no matter what you do. I would rather add officials and goal line technology instead of giving coaches the power to stop the game. I would also like to add that HALF the NFL challenges that occur, the announcers and commentators disagree with the refs decision after using replay. So it won’t fix anything just create a new set of problems.
@ King Eric, what if an offside goal from the opposition denys us another Premier League title next season or the next, or denied us from scoring a legitimate goal as the ref wrongly flags offside? It happened before, it can happen again, the game would become fairer which is what matters most imo.
I think i’m going to give up on watching the world cup. The football hasn’t been that great, along with the woeful decisions from the ref.. Don’t think its worth my time. Even if its summer and i’m bored to death.
I think now the time has come when fergie should also signa player.I know our current squad is strong but i think it would be a gamble if we go with the same squad.Seriously i cant understand why in the hell are we going for ninis.Hell this is manchester united the biggest club in the world we should be signing the likes of ozil or sanchez or a creative mid fielder and here we are signing another tosic like player.Have to accept premiership is getting tougher and tougher every season we also should sign someone even if we sign only one player it does not matter but i think we should sign a star player rather than signing another unproven player.
Im with King Eric….goal line technology but thats it.
Tennis is a stop start sport…rugby too and cricket is the ultimate stop start sport…test matches last 5 days, one dayers a whole day and even the shortest format 20 20 takes an hour longer than a football match.
In tennis cricket and rugby..the decisions by snicko, hawkeye, hotspot, cyclone, touch ref, video ref all all a matter of FACT. In football it is mainly subjective.
Goal line = fact
But many a foul and offside are human interpretation, a matter of opinion, some times countless replays prove inconclusive.
I personally dont want football to become a robotic sport..i like the passion and yes even the injustices that creates our siege mentality and makes us stronger.
Technology is a can of worms…you open it up and then people will want it for everything……and im sorry i watch american sports and they do your nut it with countless appeals etc etc
just my opinion
PS england are shite and my post doesnt mean i back blatter…personally i think he is a fat corrupt arsehole of all arseholes
Lovely post
Technology would never interfere with football because as soon as something would happen – the fourth ref at least would have it on reply within a few seconds if the ref didn’t catch it – as is proved by broadcasters seemingly without prejudice or time consuming can come up with a replay time and time again – that in itself makes mockery of the idiots who run our game
Goal line technology isn’t a problem – listen to Dr. Hawkins and you think FIFA are idiots for letting him always have his say then telling him to walk away.
I would go further – either then have more assistant refs that could catch the offside of Tevez for Argentina’s goal or more importantly Drogbas goal against us or introduce a running camera that could detect an offside – again at the fourth refs discretion the decision would not take more than a few seconds to comprehend and therefore help the referee
The truth is that refs make a lot of decisions which cannot be controlled by the cameras an never will – for example what happened to Fletcher in the CL S/F last year or the Chelsea match at SB. The game will always have elements of stupidity and wrong decision making
But technology will help bring in some common sense to the game which at the moment is severely lacking
Blatter is a fucking joke – a man who presides over a bigger joke because it’s all corrupt – I could carry on – I don’t need to.
The FA are a joke – a body that has no idea about football looking after the country’s game. The truth is the PL is big enough to subsidise English football and it would be better for it.
Also I would introduce a one on one with refs at the end of the game to make them react to there decision making. Trust me they’d soon get there fucking act together – FIFA are living in the past – you do not need a revolution in the game you only need an evolution to help the game become more fairer
On that note FIFA does not equal fair play – it’s a con – it’s bullshit and until Blatter and his cronies do not fuck off and football people come in and take over – it will remain CORRUPT
In other news, I hear that Ozil is close to signing for Barcelona.
@costas
I dont know what barca are upto.They already have many attacking players and now they also want to sign ozil.Seriously i respected barca as they produced their own talenty but now they are also no different to real madrid.
Cmonn fergie buy someone before it too late.
@Costas
My dear Costas
He’d be an idiot if he goes because with Xavi and Inesta he wouldn’t even get in the team
Which takes me to a certain Fabregas – can’t get into the Spanish team because of those two – so why the hell would he go to Barca?
I’m actually not bothered if we sign Ozil or not – he’s a very good player but 25/30 million? Doubt it
Just like SIlva going to little city – I read a comment that the club has attracted such players to drive the club onto success even without CL football – I can’t stop laughing – nothing to do with the over inflated pay packet then?
Dream on city and everyone else – my trust is in my gaffer – In Sir Alex we all trust : )
Right Costas : )
@Ash
Well he wouldn’t harm their midfield in any way. They still produce their own like Pedro, but they need players like Ozil or Villa to complete the puzzle. Just waiting for confirmation on the signing. I found the news on a Greek website.
@MG
Hi mate. The report I read says that if the deal gets completed, Ozil could stay at Werder for another year before he joins Barca. Maybe they are looking at him as a long term succesor to Xavi.
Have the referee or linesman come out and apologised for their unexplanable inability to see the ball cross the line? It’s not even as if the inept linesman made the excuse of he couldn’t see it therefore he couldn’t give it. He is clearly seen running back with one of the players (Rooney I think) shaking his haid saying no!! I can only assume he means no it did not cross the line, in which case he has not made a mistake but is clearly lying. If that is the case he should be struck off and questioned as regard to favouring the opposition!! I agree that Referee’s should be made to come out and face the media to explain their performance after a game…after all, managers are made to do this!! I also don’t see why decisions that do not affect the result of the game cannot be changed after a game just because the referee has made a decision during that game! How pathetic is that. It is abundently clear that referees make mistakes during matches, yet based on the fact that he could have made a mistake, it can not be reviewed. Only if he has not seen an incident can it be reviewed! A perfect case in point would be Fletcher vs Arsenal in the CL Semi. The referee wrongly sent Fletcher off. Because he made the mistake it could not be reviewed. WHY!! Every man and his dog knew it was a fair tackle. There was plenty of time for someone with a bit of common sense to say Look, the boy has made a legitimate tackle, he has acted within the rules of the game, therefore,not only is it unfair that he misses the final, it will also give the opposition an unfair advantage. Therefore we will do the right thing and overturn the red card. HOW HARD IS THAT TO ACHIEVE IN THIS DAY AND AGE?!?!?!
off topic but i need net curtains for my bed room- how many times has that poor women seen me naked
GHTT
Is that a good thing or a bad thing : )
@Costas
That is even more funnier spend 30 million on a player and then take him in a year where he might have suddenly become worthless or even worse injured.
La Liga is a right madhouse – closely followed by little city of course : )
Ash – Its as easy as that ain’t it mate. Fergie likes Ozil so lets get him. No it doesn’t work like that. Does the player want to come here? More to it mate. Ninis rumour is probably bollocks anyway.
I agree with tech being used to help the ref in big games. The first time a guy dives for a penalty and is caught by the video replay and sent off it will send shudders down the spine of every cheat in football; are you listening Gerrard, Torres, Drogba, Fabregas, Henry?
In order to prevent players abusing the system there could be a limit of say, 3 challenges per half, similar to the system employed in tennis.
This could prevent dodgy offside goals, handballed goals, dodgy sendings – off, diving for free kicks and penalties; and it could prevent dodgy referees from ruining the game; an almost weekly occurence in EPL.
sorry that wasnt my off topic news that was just what was happen when i heared my off topic news
http://footytweets.com/manutd/news/315076
this could be a big day in the history of manchester united- the nextfletch
@MG
Look at it like this. It’s 15 million euros plus Hleb and another player. Now, wouldn’t you pay someone 15 million just to get rid of Hleb?
The madness has began. Mankini says that they attract the best players in the world and that they are going for the title.
@costas
already? i expected it to start at the start of the season. “going for the title.” pmsl. that was quite a good joke man
@huzi
Yeah he couldn’t hold himself mate. Here’s the quote:
“In signing David, we are showing the world that we are bringing the best players here and that we hope to compete to win the Premier League.
(Translation: In signing Silva we are showing the world that we are bringing the best mercenaries here and we hope to not make it 36 years)
“When players see what is happening at Manchester City and the ambition, they are attracted to what we are building and want to be a part of it.”
(Translation: When players see how much money we are throwing away at Manchester City, they are attracted to it and want to be a part of it)
Complain about Chelsea’s offside goal all u want. If technology existed in football, Macheda’s handball goal wouldn’t count so Chelsea would still win the title. You seem to forget anything that goes in United’s favor, but thats to be expected from a very bias author
pat mate
the game in november the ref and lines man fucked up 3 times from given the free kick to the ball in the net
and sir john of terrys swandive fowl on valencia in the box was as clear a peno if the keeper had of just walked out and punched him in the chops
@Pat
United still lost lost that game 1-2, so Macheda’s goal wasn’t exactly a title-decider, was it?
Jesus, how are all Rentboys uniformly daft?
Costas – Love your translations mate!!
Well said…again…to give the readers a perspective (not sure if someone has mentioned it already) … In Hockey, which I must admit is WAY faster than football, the teams playing can appeal thrice in the entire match…I havent noticed the game slowing down a bit…It is as interesting (or boring) as it was..just that A LOT MORE FAIR !!
@King Eric
Thanks pal. I like Silva, but geez, Mankini is acting like he signed Cantona!
Excellent Posts and Comments last few days – Also good to see the majority aren’t concerned about Citys new signing. Somebody already said it, if he’s worth 25 mil then Nani is worth 60.
Plus, compared to 25 mil for Silva we’d have to say Valencia is worth twice that judging from his first season. Can’t wait to see him and Nani improve on 7 goals. Best wingers in Europe imo.
@costas
. cheers
lol mate cracker of a translation that
@Paul
Totally agree. Which is why I find its strange when we’re linked with one winger after another. We have two of the best wingers in the world, with Giggsy and Obertan for cover? Who needs Muller?
Costas, I didn’t know you were fluent in Delusion…
What about Macheda’s blatant hand-ball in the SAME FUCKING GAME? Stop whining, you Manc cunts!
so what if they signed Silva…..we have 2 Da Silva already!
give him 2 weeks into the season and he will end up with an injury, I dont think he can make it in the premiership…..besides, tevez will end up leaving and going to Spain at the end of the WC anyway.
@brwah
fuck of you rented prick! last i saw this was a united blog. knob. what about the game at sb? rooney’s onside, valencia’s stonewall and drogpuss’s shove on brown?
Well everyone
Chris Waddle reckons players like Rooney etc have to move abroad in order to prove themselves technically and therefore prepare themselves for England
That I believe is the last straw especially coming from a man who threw a fit at the FA when England lost – again another Englishman speaking out of his backside
As far as Rooney is concerned he is technically far superior to nearly all Englishmen and for that matter Europeans/South Americans – and has premierships CL and a world club to prove it.
Ronaldo won European/World player of the year whilst he was at Manchester United – a team that was successful in this country – I really don’t know what Waddle is doing apart from Waddling bullshit
It’s not Rooney’s fault that the manager of England played him out of position or alternatively played him when he was carrying an injury. It’s not his fault when the England manager reckons there is something wrong with Wayne’s head
You don’t hear that from Sir Alex do you?
And then why do so many foreigners come here to the premiership to play football?
Because is it inferior to the European game?
The truth of Englands failure is a combination of events – management – players – FA etc
Yet idiots like Waddle still don’t get it – England get the second goal and in my opinions the Germans would have been shot to pieces. The fact that it is mostly a mental game meant that England could not hold there nerve and therefore succumbed to German counter attack
And that was all because of one legitimate goal not given that changed the match.
Chris Waddle didn’t exactly set the world alight with his football – his assumption that English players have to move abroad to get it is wholly nonsense and makes a mockery of our game.
If England want to win the world cup or any other tournament then they have to begin to get mentally tough and adopt the ability to change systems and have players fluid and flexible enough to do so
I am no football coach but I don’t need 6 million a year to get England to the SF or F of a major tournament – and I think I speak for most of us here.
Howard Wilkinson said that we need an academy – a blueprint to get this country going – the belief in youth – the practice of forming youngsters to participate not in the goal to score goals to win – but to learn how to do the basics and to most of all enjoy it
Howard Wilkinson wrote that report in 1997
That was 13 years ago
It is 2010 – Howard Wilkinson said the same things in a rant after England got kicked out of the WC
in 1997 the FA didn’t listen
In 2010 the FA still don’t listen and in between they have wasted money on coaches that are either too pussy footed to do fuck all or one that lost his nerve for whatever reason at the moment where it mattered – and we will never know why he lost his principles accordingly
That my friends is the truth
brwah
Macheda’s hands didnt have much importance anyways, did it? Drogfilth’s offside goal killed the game off.
@Moscow is my heaven
Ha. It’s not that hard. All you have to do is look at Eriksson, Hughes and now Mankini’s quotes everytime they sign a “world class” player. They are exactly the same. I think they feed them delusion as soon as they agree to manage Shity!
Great read as normal.
ohhh that fucker at Old trafford, if only, and i will say if only.
On we go, no crying now.
If anybody remember what i say last season of start of this year, I had asked for technology and know there will be more errors committed. Look what happen? We are still debating this technology. I don’t see how it can not be happen? Start now and not think of the past. IN the past there is no technology and now we have, we got to make use of it. In the past we don’t have doesn’t mean we cant use it now because it is not fair to the previous team and country in the past. We had to change now. If technology thinks the same as them, technology will think it is not fair to those people in the past who have no television and computer and not invent them?? Bullshit! People move ahead and i still don’t get it. It’s a matter of few seconds to see the replay and it could be fair to the game and the fans yet we are ignore and having to cry or downhearted and some maybe commit suicide having see their team lose.
It’s time for a change.
News just in. I heard that the FA and stevie g has won a gagging order
so that a story about stevie g having an affair with his wife’s sister and got
the sister pregnant. Apparently all the England players knew it and
that was part of the reason why JT got upset that stevie g got the captaincy.
Some of the players backed Terry others supported gerrard. You heard it first here.
Also it got so heated out in south Africa that David beckham had to
step in. Apparently JT and stevie g hate each others guts.
FOOTBALL REFEREE SUPPORT SYSTEM
http://www.maruzsiteam.hu/talalmanyok/eng/eng_partjelzo.html
I think some of you are mistaking the playing position of Ozil and Muller.
Ozil is a winger, all pace to burn,
Muller is a central midfielder, all action and energy
Ive heard this rumour so I done a search & hey presto:
http://www.football.co.uk/blogs/5010/902129.shtml
marq – Muller played out on the wing for Bayern against us didn’t he? I actually thought he WAS a winger.