Refereeing Standards
Posted in Football at 19:12 on 2 February 2009
Nice to see it’s not only in the Scottish Third Division you get some bizarre refereeing decisions.
I refer of course to yesterday’s Liverpool-Chelsea game.
No more than five or so yards in front of the referee’s eyes Steven Gerrard made a dangerous, studs-up lunge on a Chelsea player, made firm contact with that player’s shin and then had the effrontery to complain about the consequent free-kick. He didn’t even get booked! The moaning git ought to have been sent off – for the dissent as much as for the challenge (which itself merited the sanction.)
Frank Lampard then challenged for, and got, the ball, was clattered by a Liverpool player (Alonso?) coming in late, but it was Lampard who was sent off.
Bosingwa assaulted a Liverpool player – his studs straight into the back of his opponent – right in front of the linesman (assistant referee? I think not) and hee-haw happens.
The second of these decisions arguably changed the game. The first could have done if the ref had been brave enough to send Gerrard off; as he deserved.
Some of these high profile players seem to think the laws of the game do not apply to them.
As for the refs: at least be consistent, eh? Anything Lampard did, or the ref might have thought he did, was no worse than Gerrard already had.
Tags: Linguistic Annoyances
MrH
3 February 2009 at 19:53
Oh but jack they are consistant.
I am a home and away follower of Raith and sfl2 refs are very consistent.
Unfortunately it’s their consistancy that is the problem. Their consistant (both week to week and ref to ref) lack of ability to follow the game is truly frightning.
Consistantly pish methinks.