There were a few moments where it was touch and go for United after the linesman held up his flag with the ball in the back of the Birmingham net.
Mark Clattenburg correctly let the goal stand though, with the ball clearly coming off Scott Dann, not Wayne Rooney, who the linesman was flagging for.
However, replays have shown since that even if the ball had gone in off Rooney, he wasn’t standing in an offside position when Evra played in the ball anyway.
Clattenburg has spoken out after the match though, adding fuel to the fire that refs don’t know what they’re on about.
“I saw that a player from the home side had scored an own goal, but my assistant saw Rooney in an offside position and correctly put the flag up,” said Clattenburg. “I went across to talk to him and he told me why he had flagged, but because Rooney did not score and it was an own goal, it must stand. If Rooney had scored then he would have been given offside. As the law stands, for a player to be offside he must be either playing the ball or interfering with play. In this case the defender tried to clear it and scored an own goal. Rooney was two or three yards away from him.”
Despite watching the replay, Clattenburg still can’t identify the fact Rooney wasn’t in an offside position. At this stage, whether he was or he wasn’t, whether he scored or he didn’t, would bother me very little because the point is in the bag. But we are right to worry about the state of refereeing in this country if even video replay can’t aid officials to make the right call.
He also defended his decision to send off Fletcher, which has been widely regarded as the wrong decision.
“There were two yellow cards for Fletcher,” said Clattenburg. “In the first half he was bollocked for dissent, I warned him for dissent. He was cautioned before half-time for a foul, then he cynically tripped the Birmingham player.”
There was nothing “cynical” about Fletcher’s second yellow card. His leg was outstretched in a bid to win the ball but the player was too fast for him. The speed at which Clattenburg produced a second yellow, then red, was all too telling of his desire to want to send Fletcher off.
Fletcher had been having a go at the referee all game, and if players week in week out got punished for this, then you would have to concede that Fletch deserved it too. But how many players get booked for dissent? Every single week you see players surrounding the ref, shouting at him, swearing at him, but when do they ever get booked? As I’ve repeatedly said on this blog, the “Respect the Ref” campaign is entirely pointless until the referee’s hand out yellow, and if needed, red cards, for dissent. Never happens though.
Clattenburg has previous though. He’s the prick who allowed Kevin Davies to kick lumps out of Patrice Evra a couple of seasons ago. If what Fletch did at the weekend was worthy of two yellow cards, Davies should have been awarded six or seven that day! He is also the referee who bent over for Steven Gerrard. He pulled out a yellow card to book Hibbert in the Merseyside derby, before Gerrard ran over, shouted in his face, and Clattenburg swapped his yellow card for a red.
Rent-a-quote, Graham Poll, has defended Clattenburg’s decision, but confirmed the massive failings of referee’s today.
“Fletcher has a problem in that his greatest strength could become a weakness unless United’s fortunes change,” said Poll. “He is so determined to drive the champions to victory that he becomes frustrated when things do not go his way and the easiest person to take that frustration out on has become the referee. That makes referees – human beings don’t forget – become irritated, which can lead to them going for a card rather quicker than usual.”
Sorry, with championships and trophies at stake, we can’t afford for petty referees to “become irritated” and wrongly send players off. I don’t give a shit if they’re human. They are paid a lot of money to do a job which requires them to make the right decision, not to carry out personal vendettas against players who get on their nerves.
“Reputations are easily gained and hard to lose and Fletcher needs to be careful of his interaction with officials, maybe taking a leaf from Tim Cahill’s book,” Poll continued. “Everton’s Australian is always pleasant to referees, willing to share a joke and accepting decisions with good grace. Maybe that’s why he only picks up a card every 11 fouls!”
So, who cares about making the right decision? Just kiss the referee’s arse, like Cahill, and you won’t pick up the yellow and red cards you deserve.
I dispair!
Man Utd News 24/7
every year there’s a campaign by the fa that they never fully implement. The respect campaign is just another half thought through idea that won’t get enforced. The refs are expected to be by the book without showing any commen sense. As for offside, i’d prefer to return to the old rule. If you are ahead of the last defender, you are offside. Simples. As clough i think it was said, if you aren’t intefering with play, you shouldn’t be on the pitch. Plus it was easier to explain the offside rule with salt and pepper pots the old way!
BOLLOCKS!!!!!!!
2nd booking was fair enough. He left his leg there and made a half hearted attempt to turn his head away as if to suggest it was an accident, but it never is with Fletcher
I’m not one to ride the doom train but something deep inside tells me that this is just NOT our year (season – i.e. I’m not referring to just 2010). Referees seem to be ready to trample us further as this sod did by sending off Fletcher.
This time last year we were hailed as having the best squad in the world let alone England – we lose two players, buy a pretty good winger and all of a sudden we’re sh!t.
I just don’t get it.
absolute horseshit…
Clattenburg is the ref who got hair implants isnt he?
Got a fucking rug on his head now… wanker
ass-kissing will earn you brownie points? I don’t believe Poll implied that… What a fucking tool.
And if what he said about irritating refs holds true, then how are the likes of major assholes such as Gerrard and Terry not sent off every game?
Think Fletcher cant have too many complaints. I was getting worried myself in the 2nd half because he was constantly having a go at the ref whenever a decision went against him and you could feel the next bookable offence he makes he will be off. That is exactly what happened. When you have been booked you have to keep quiet. cant keep giving the ref a mouthful every time.
Good though he misses just the Burnley game. Hope we can get the job done without him.
AIG
If that was a red card then I love John Terry
That was one of the softest yellow cards This season and the fact that it was that all important second yellow that a ref usally takes a step back and a moment taught then it was a disgrace.
ghtt
You are forgetting the main point. Fletcher plays for United, Terry plays for Chelsea and Gerrard for Liverpool.Even if Terry or Gerrard shit on the refrees face they wont be booked but United players have been booked for nothing at times. You cant do anything against it, just be careful and keep your mouth shut.Fletchers card was not just that foul but accumulation of constantly having a ago at the ref. Thats all we can do. We will never win against the refs. As Jonny evans said a few months back ‘we have to beat the opposition and the refree too’
Watched the game on ESPN and before the teams came out the blonde totty was in the tunnel entrance saying the build up smooze infront of the Ref!He had a right smug look on his face as though he was a superstar!Be funny if you have or can get a copy of it Scott.
I’d fuck his wife’s arse rather than kissing cltnbrg’s. He is a dickhead . But fergie isnt making it easier he is right to criticise them but that’s making some of them more determint on screwing us . So let’s kiss their arses till vida comes back and murder them!
From watching the match it was obvious that Fletcher had got right up the nose of the ref..
Not that you have to arse lick but a bit of biting yoru tounge and approaching them in a better way does help your chances in situations like that.
We are not in a perfect world and in real life 2 players could commit the same foul and only 1 get a yellow depending on the relationship with the ref!
Most of the Premier League refs are shite. I despise Clattenburg, and I fucking cringe every time I see Mike Dean’s name on the sheet. This is why we need goal line technology and replay and the lot, anything to help these fucking knobs make the right call.
The cunt Poll can’t keep his fucking mouth shut: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-1242258/GRAHAM-POLL-Look-Fergie-Why-Manchester-Uniteds-referee-baiter-Darren-Fletcher-deserved-sent-off.html
Off topic – Great to see that Edwin is out in Qatar or wherever they have gone with the squad. Reckon he may be back for Burnley game.
Clattenburg. Double standards personified.
I am happy to hear that Edwin has joined the squad again, although I don’t approve of these trips. I would prefer it if we worked on how to take a damn corner kick, lol.
Squad is in Qatar. Most of you must have seen these pictures but neverthless i am posting it
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1242274/PICTURE-SPECIAL-Snow-What-snow-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-Manchester-United-stars-arrive-Qatar-winter-sunshine.html?ITO=1490
Looks like the Ronaldo sale is the reason we managed a profit this year:
http://www.imscouting.com/global-news-article/Manchester-United-report-48M-profit-thanks-to-Ronaldo-sale/4894/
i think wat poll said about cahill has some truth in it.
cause, its one of the ways to influence the ref’s psychology and thus making him favour us.
well when u treat the ref nice (lick his arse), he’ll think that u r an honest player and u wont argue unless u are 100% sure that the ref is wrong. Then, he’ll listen to u.
if the team gotta do this from time to time, they should. Plus, nobody can get accept being sweared and scolded in face without their mood affected.
my 2sens. clattenburg is rubbish btw.
Costas
Hi mate.
Read that. I thought that myself when i read we made nearly 50 million profit.Wondered how managed to make that much profit given the losses we suffered in 2008.Back then we didnt sell anyone and brought Berba for 30 million. Last season we sold Ronaldo for 80 million and spent just 20 million. The losses in 2008 were 21 million. Profit last year was 48 million. Nearly all due to the profit made on transfers.
As for VDS joinng the squad i am delighted . Lets hope can fully concentrate on football now. Hargo, rio and nani are in Doha too with the rest of the team. Hope this rejuvenates the players for tougher challenges that lie ahead of us starting Burnley on Saturday
Costa
Thats news hat is scary raing that the club stays a float due to seling our best player but its good news to know that United are making a profit . I seen news yesterday that liverpool are in debt and would listen to offers for Stevie Me(who doesnt seem to give a shit this season) and Torres ( who by reading about it they are looking for city to offer an offer that they already offered before)
for the P.I.G. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM5qePMpiwA
fuck me, how can united possibly manage to take the squad to dubai with the massive crippling debt that the club has that doesn’t allow us to compete with the major signings the bitters are completing like the up and coming spring chicken they’ve just signed who’s definately not injured? Maybe, just maybe it’s not the end of united as we know it hey doom mongerer’s! And just read on sky sports united are hoping to raise 500 million in bonds or shares. Fuck me, the multi millionare global corporation that own us might ACTUALLY know something about business. Still don’t like them but don’t think we’re gonna be run into the ground. Although as i stated before i know nothing bout finance
@AIG
My economics aren’t all that great, but I think that in 2008 we made a lot of money from our wins in Moscow and in Japan. A lot of endorsements go with that as well. I think the Ch.League alone brought us 80million pounds.
It’s still weird though. In 2008 we made a profit like that and the following year we would have reported a loss if it wasn’t for Ronaldo? And our success on the field in 2009 wasn’t all that worse compared to 2008.
What ever about the rights and wrongs of the decision to send off Fletcher, Clattenburg is actually correct when he’s discussing the offside/goal decision.
Had Rooney touched the ball, and had the linesman insisted at the time Rooney was offside, the ref would have had to disallow the goal.
The fact that the linesman called it wrong doesn’t change that – the linesman thought he was offside, so correctly raised the flag.
In the end it stood, so they got the right decision, albeit by the wrong path.
the team are almost looking as bad as the finances.
im not worried about the primadonna’s comments im more worried why united barely made a single chance after equalising on saturday.
@GHTT
Hi. One other thing that we have to take into consideration, is that 2009 was the first full year of the econimic crisis. That must have been another reason why we might have reported losses. It still makes you wonder why within a year we went from profit to loss(if we hadn’t sold Ronaldo). Looks like the Glazers are feeling the burden of the debt.
Hey nice work by Emily. Just don’t ask her to spell the PIG’s name! I still can’t get it right.
Costas
My economics is worse. Yeah, Surprising that though. Overall we won more trophies than in 2008(if you include the CWC as in 2009) but missed the main prize which is the Champions League. Still we made the final though so it is rather puzzling
its just been on sky news that the club are trying to raise £500 mill by selling bonds to private investors and paying them a dividend on these bonds at a lower interest rate than we are currently paying on the £500 mill loan (which we currently pay 14% interest on- £47,000 per minute interest according to Sky!!)
On another topic, with Fergies penchant for ‘mad’ signings, what do you reckon the possibility of Ruud rocking up at OT on a short term deal? the lad has unfinished business at OT, and i’d back him to score more than the little welsh scouser. any thoughts?
AIG
I wonder if the CWC goes to the 2008 or the 2009 report. As I said above, it might have to do with the general economic crisis too. Or with the Glazers stepping up their attempts to get rid of the debt.
Mancaroon
Would love to have him back but injuries have really hampered him in the last few years.Can even stay fit for a month.Hasnt affected his goal scoring though as 66 goals in 97 games for real Madrid suggests. However SAF never signs a player with whom he has fallen out so that wont happen and can be ruled out
People might not like this but Fletch is begining to get on my nerves with the constant complaining to refs, I hate it when players do that.. and clatter is basically saying that his dissent had an effect on the second booking…
Mancaroon:
I hate the predicament that the Glazers have brought us in. However, I think it’s a good move by the Glazers because it’s the damn interest rate that’s causing the biggest problems.
Ruud at United? Interesting I must say. I wouldn’t have a problem, given how we are misfiring at the moment, but Fergie never signs players back. Especially those he has had bust ups with.
The referees in England have become an absolute joke, and clearly there is an anti United bias. Yet the old farts at the FA can’t wait to punish Fergie for telling the truth.
costa I think with the bonds the club is trying to steddy the boat, I cant see the glaziers around the club in 2 years .
I remember liverpool fans screaming out for new signings and the club not giving any money to buy so to keep everyone happy the brought back robbie coke nose , it was a flop and now he’s playing for a bottom of the table oz team but the ruud ne would be a fantastic cheap signing that the fans would love and accept and we all know he can still do it.
ghtt
cant see the glazers in 2 years!!. Who will buy the club in this situation?. Even if the debts reduce due to this they wont reduce very quicly and until our debts lower to a managable amount no one will buy the club.
I bet everything i have that he wudn’t have sent of gerrard for that tackle, as scott says this cunt has previous against united. He was in charge of the mersyside derby a few years ago and give some strange decisions in that match. Graham poll, how the fcuk wud you know wat fletch’s strengh’s and weakness are, stick to talking about ref’s you know nowt about football prick. love united hate glazer
Now we officialy know what has happened to the Ronaldo money.
Who is next to go to keep the Glazers afloat, Rooney?
Xyth
Dont even say that. Makes me shiver to even think we would sell Rooney. Think if it comes to that point(it never will) SAF will quit the club rather than see wazza go.That will never happen.
@aig
There always be someone interested in buying united mate, i do agree wiv ghtt that the glazer’s will be of in a few years time, the sooner the better for me.
willierednut
hope you are right mate but given the debt anyone who wants to buy will have to pay 1 billion. Not many who can do that considering the Glazers had to fork out 800 million pounds The only thing i liked about Glazers is the fact that they let SAF do things his way and have not interfered like a certain Mr Abramovich does for the rentboys
Thats the worry for me Xyth and your rite we now know were the ronaldo money went.
hey guys
Clattenburg is full of nonsense and i think fletch did’nt deserve to get sent off. oh you know the referee that annoys me the most is Andre Marriner! the guy has been a cunt and another one is Mike Dean who at one moment gives a legitimate penalty for us but when we should be awarded another he waves it away. the guy is so fucking inconsistent he makes nani look world class! seriously the refereeing in the premier league has declined and poor decisions are made more often than not.
@Aig
good to hear hargo, rio, nani and vds. oh mate did vida also travel?
@willierednut
Absolutely, I wish they left yesterday.
I also think that Government, FA and the Premier league should work together to change the rules on how the clubs are bought not to allow situations like this to happen in the future.
We do not want to end up like Leeds, with no foault of our own.
Hargo’s curly hair
DIdnt see Vidic in any of the images. here is a link that has more images
http://www.daylife.com/topic/Manchester_United
Wasn’t Clattenburg also the referee who asked Citeh players at halftime how they could tolerate Bellamy, then gave him a second yellow for a “dive” when, in fact, it would have been much easier to give him the penalty?
I believe Bellamy’s first yellow was for dissent too.
This guy seems to really have a bit of a God complex going on.
SB
On a light note:
http://lufcsuperstore.dnsupdate.co.uk/productdetails.asp?parent_id=3&sub_id=14&product_id=1107
The mighty leeds United – the conquerers of Manchester United and the saviours of the FA cup have authorised a t – shirt in remembrance for that day that Leeds fans will never forget for the rest of there lives.
So it gets that low for them – just as bad as the scousers then – thank the Lord we don’t stoop to such a low…
Thomas B – “my assistant saw Rooney in an offside position and correctly put the flag up”
Clattenburg is not right. The linesman incorrectly put his flag up. At no point does Clattenburg acknowledge that Rooney was on side. He says if Rooney had touched the ball it would have been ruled out – that would have been the wrong decision.
Clattenbutg is a twat but he’s hardly going to come out and condemn his linesman is he? United we stand divided we fall mentality from the referees. As for brown nosing the ref’s come on guys thats nothing new. Its been going on for donkeys years, its a fact if you kiss ass you get away with shit. I am surprised this was insinuated by Poll.
Fletcher’s first yellow: not a bad foul but I assume it was for persistent fouling so the rights and wrongs of that are up for debate.
Fletcher’s second yellow: the Birmingham player went past him and was running into space, Fletcher stuck out a leg and brought him down. It was the sort of yellow card that would not have been complained about if it had been the first.
In combination a sending off was harsh… but neither decision was obviously wrong.
I dont get the intervering wiv play explanation either, rooney wasn’t blocking hart’s veiw, very weird indeed.
@Ben… have to agree with every word you said there about the red card..
to me the Rooney incident is totally irrelevant as the goal was given, so why worry about that – to me this is like making a story where there isn’t one. He made the right decision, so he doesn’t need to justify anything. Linesman thought Rooney was offside, it’s a easy mistake to make. Nowhere in this article has anyone actually asked Clattenburg if he thought Rooney was offside – obviously he would rely on the linesman for that..
“He is so determined to drive the champions to victory that he becomes frustrated when things do not go his way”
go and fuck yourself, Poll. Fletch is one of the most honest and quite players around. agree with everything Scott wrote.
Great article Scott. I wrote a comment on teamtalk.com yesterday saying the following Clattenburg is a joke! Look at his performances over the years and it just shows how inconsistent he has been. For example how can the Fletcher 2nd incident be a similiar offence to Kuyts 2 footed foul a few years ago in the merseyside derby. I saw alot worse fouls against us when we played Bolton a few seasons ago and he let play go on. The man is not fit to be a premier league ref……………I was ridiculed by many Arsenal and Liverpool fans for this by them saying you united fans always blame the ref when things do not go our way. It just shows how fickle some of these fans are.
May I also add why do people keep going on about Fletchers red card when Jerome handled the ball which resulted to the corner where he scored from.
SHOCKING! Nothing more nothing less is needed to say. He is a waste of space and oxygen
I’m sorry but Clattenburg was right to have booked Fletcher for that challenge which led to his sending off.That player had got away from Fletcher,and so Fletcher decieded to block his way by stretching his foot out,getting that guys leg but not the ball.
Let’s not forget,had that Birmingham player been a United player,Fergie would be shouting his throat sore to get that player booked.
Clattenburg made the right decision to give us the goal……forget his explanation afterwords,actions speak louder than words.
And he also made the right decision to book Fletcher for the 2nd time.Like I said previously,had that been a United player being fouled,all of you guys would have been on here moaning how the opposing player never got booked.
I would have said that Clattenburg made himself a cunt had he not allowed that goal to stand.But in this issue,that’s clearly not the case.
End of story.
But I hope you are not using Clattenburg as an excuse as to why we didn’t win last Saturday.
Ben-”but neither decision was obviously wrong.”
That’s true.I didn’t understand why STR,had to write a full page article criticising Clattenburg’s explanation after the game despite the fact that out on the pitch he made the right decision to award the goal.
Ashish – Firstly, because Clattenburg’s comments have come after he has seen the footage and he still gets it wrong. After viewing the footage, he says he would have disallowed the goal if Rooney had touched it, despite the fact Rooney wasn’t actually offside. I thought it was worth pointing out that even with video replay, the refs in this country still can’t see what the correct decision should be.
Secondly, why are you having a conversation with yourself?
Fuck off Poll you complete and utter cunt. How can a man who issues three yellow cards to the same player be allowed to make a comment and have it dignified? He’s always been an attention seeker, so starved of attention, he now throws his two penneths in via the press.