On the Referee Jobs blog we often discuss the attitude of both the Media and Managers to referees, and the events of the weekend shows again the levels of difficulty that the officials face.
Watching the QPR v Aston Villa match it was instructive in the first half to listen to commentator Martin Tyler talking about how calm and assured that young referee Michael Oliver was and how he was the best of the “new breed” of officials.
In the second period, of course, there was a barrage of criticism for the North East whistle blower when he gave a penalty that was soft in the extreme (and in the interests of fairness it is the opinion of Referee-jobs.com that it wasn’t a penalty) then turned down two clearer cut appeals from QPR for handballs.
Of course it is the job of the Media to report these things – and commentators to comment on these things – football is, after all, an extremely important vehicle for the Media, and we all love the talking points.
However, they could try and do it fairly. Most of the newspapers today are reporting QPR manager Neil Warnock’s comments after the match: “They've [Villa players] stayed on the pitch, [James] Collins and the number 10 whoever he was [Charles N'Zogbia], should have been booked twice.
"It's disappointing to be talking about referees...there's nothing to referee in that game. Not one Aston Villa supporter appeals for a penalty. I bet there are 25,000 more tugs on that pitch.
"Referees should be seen and not heard but it takes away from our performance - I thought we were superb."
Leaving aside the “seen and not heard” thing might also apply to football managers (eh Neil?) fewer
Media outlets (although the BBC have gone with it in a big way) are using the same column inches to talk about the second part of Warnock’s interview. In this he said his own player – new signing Armand Traore - was “thick and naïve” and “let the club down” for his second booking.
Possibly because “Warnock praises refs decision isn’t such a good story.
Similarly ESPN’s pundit Craig Burley did his best to create controversy where there was none in the coverage of the Stoke V Man Utd match on Saturday night.
Watching the re-run of the game that I had actually been at (that’s how sad we are at Referee-jobs.com!!) Burley seemed absolutely determined to claim there was a penalty in the second period, when he spotted a handball in the box. The Referee’s Assistant duly put his flag up, but for offside against Michael Owen.
“I’m sorry,” said incandescent Burley, “that is an awful decision. How can that be offside? In today’s game, Owen isn’t offside, he’s not active or whatever the phrase is.”
Cue a replay that CLEARLY shows the ball hitting the offside Owen, after which Assistant Referee Mike Mularkey flags. Faced with the incontrovertible proof that he was wrong, Burley carried on. “Offside or not,” he blustered, “the handball was before the offside.”
Then it happened: On the third replay, which showed Shawcross turning his back on the ball before the ball it him possibly on the shoulder, possibly on the back, Burley, who by now had clearly realised he was wrong, said “you will see here Jon, that the handball was clear …” [pause, as it proved anything but] before the coup-de-grâce was delivered…
“Well for me it’s still a penalty.”
After the game, Robbie Savage, who was in the ESPN studio dismissed it, saying it had, “never been” a penalty.
Now personally, I love Robbie Savage, I admit. I think he is an insightful pundit and likeable bloke but when he is the voice of reason when it comes to refereeing decisions, it might be time for Craig Burley to have a look at himself….
We all have bad day’s Craig, even co-commentators.
No comments:
Post a Comment