Refs getting manipulated by top sides?

[ohmelads]

Refs tend to give the benefit of the doubt to the major teams because if they don't give the decision and they're found to be wrong the media backlash is even worse. I think it becomes a natural reaction to err on the side of caution and give stuff the way of the 'big team'. Not just in this country or even this sport. Can you imagine Chelsea, Liverpool or Man Utd were denied a blatant pen in the last minute because the ref had doubts, the ref would take a hammering in the media and his reputation would suffer. It's a lot easier to give decisions the way of the big guns and be called one or two names for that, because it dies down a lot quicker.

 

The same goes for big players too. We still talk about Shearer being sent off by Rennie for doing nothing wrong. If that had been a lesser player, who would still talk about it? Or even remember which ref had given it? (Of course, you do get one or two refs who seem to enjoy sending off big names).

 

If we got ourselves among the top 4 clubs in this league consistently over 5 or 10 years we would see more of these decisions and 'benefit of the doubt' coming our way too.

[Parky]

Refs tend to give the benefit of the doubt to the major teams because if they don't give the decision and they're found to be wrong the media backlash is even worse. I think it becomes a natural reaction to err on the side of caution and give stuff the way of the 'big team'. Not just in this country or even this sport. Can you imagine Chelsea, Liverpool or Man Utd were denied a blatant pen in the last minute because the ref had doubts, the ref would take a hammering in the media and his reputation would suffer. It's a lot easier to give decisions the way of the big guns and be called one or two names for that, because it dies down a lot quicker.

 

The same goes for big players too. We still talk about Shearer being sent off by Rennie for doing nothing wrong. If that had been a lesser player, who would still talk about it? Or even remember which ref had given it? (Of course, you do get one or two refs who seem to enjoy sending off big names).

 

If we got ourselves among the top 4 clubs in this league consistently over 5 or 10 years we would see more of these decisions and 'benefit of the doubt' coming our way too.

 

 

Referee's are getting manipulated by the top sides. Good article.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/08/21/sfnwin121.xml

 

 

 

 

"Jose Mourinho made JT a better player, a better organiser and a real good leader. Jose is very successful at bringing that siege mentality in - manipulate [officials], intimidate, influence - pick your word. Analyse videos of Chelsea games when incidents go against them, and one player is always in that melée, trying to confront the referee. Some would argue that JT is in there because he is the captain, representing his team. The Laws of the game will tell you the captain has no privileges. His job is to do the toss-up.''

 

Poll believes the constant surrounding of referees is pre-meditated. "Yes. It works. Let's look at patterns. When Fergie first came to United they had not won the championship for a long time, and he put together a combative team, who were snarling, who intimidated referees and opponents, won the title a few times, and changed into a silky smooth team that has some lovely fluidity. With Arsenal, Arsene Wenger came in, and there was that attrition. The record of his number of red cards was incredible."

[Guest alex]

...is keeping track of how many direct free kicks (in central positions just outside the box) and pens Arsenal, Liverpool and ManU get in the last 5 min if they need a goal. **Chelsea don't get them as I discovered last year.

 

THis weekend..

 

Arsenal FK 2 Pen 1

Liverpool 2 Pens 0

ManU FK 3 Pens 0 Giggs, Ronaldo, Ronaldo.

 

These days this kind of freekick is almost like half a pen if you have the right players in the side.

Chelsea just get full pens rather than half ones