Morning all.
The FA and PL must have been spitting feathers when the independent Regulatory Commission found the charge against Mikel Arteta for an alleged breach of FA Rules following the Newcastle game to be unproven. I read though some of the report, longwinded as it was, and basically, Mikel Arteta was deemed to have been critical of the VAR process rather than the officials. Obviously there was a lot more to the hearing including the admission from Joe Willock that the ball had gone out of play, previous post match comments made by managers which went unpunished etc and it matters not that he’s a Premier League manager as all football League managers should be treated the same. The latter refers to lower League managers having not been charged by the FA for their post match comments about decisions which have gone against them.
I’ve always believed and written on here that it doesn’t matter if it’s Arsenal FC or Accrington Stanley, the rules should apply the same to both. As should any subsequent penalty handed out.
The reality is, VAR isn’t working as well as it could and should here in England. It can’t be the technology itself unless it differs from that in other countries because we’ve all seen it be used at the Euros, the World Cup, in Europe too and to my knowledge, there’s been nothing like the disasters we seen in the Premier League week in week out in so many of the games on the same day. Howard Webb could do with spending some time abroad to see how and why it works better overseas. Take some of the officials with him regularly too so they can see how it works so smoothly.
If Webb wants fairness in football then the referees cannot be deciding that two very similar offences in the penalty area result in two different outcomes as the did last weekend when Gabriel Jesus wasn’t awarded a penalty. And that’s just one simple example. I don’t even watch much football yet I’ve seen no end of free-kicks be awarded for a far softer push on a player than the Joelinton shove Gabriel just before Newcastle Utd scored and I’ve seen many fouls given for less rough treatment than Bukayo Saka receives throughout a game too. The Ayew sending off at Crystal Palace last weekend was appalling. He’s a spiky little player I know but he didn’t deserve two bookings in my opinion.
I’ve read mixed opinions on Mikel Arteta’s post Newcastle interview but my own view is I’m glad he spoke out. I’m glad Roy Hodgson did too and Jurgen Klopp earlier in the season – in fact the more managers who speak out the better I think because it’s not jus5 sour grapes after a loss, it’s a harsh reality that football is a business and an expensive one at that. Managers survive and fall on results and matches these days are hard enough to win on the best of days let alone when an official either on or off the pitch is making terrible mistakes.
Just a few weeks ago, Roberto De Zerbi, whose team Arsenal face tomorrow lunchtime, had a thing or two to say about the officials. He’d been booked during their game with Sheffield Utd and had seen one of his players sent off. De Zerbi, didn’t disagree with the red card shown by the referee, John Brooks, but the Brighton manager said afterwards:
I am honest and clear, I don’t like 80% of English referees. That isn’t a new opinion. I don’t like them. I don’t like their behaviour on the pitch. England is the only country where when there is VAR, you are not sure that the decision is right. In other countries, you have to be sure 100% that the decision taken is right. In England, no, and I am not able to understand.
He’s right of course although I’d quite like to know who the 20% of referees he likes are.
Anyway, more on Brighton and De Zerbi tomorrow.
I nearly forgot. It’s the women’s north London Derby today, kickoff is at midday.
Catch up in the comments.
Is there much difference between what Willock did to a player who takes a dive in the goal area, after all the both led to a goal being scored, personly I believe he should have kept his mouth shut as I can see the ref’s looking for a payback chance for making them look like idots.
Play to the whistle Geoff. I wouldn’t have left the ball had I thought it gone out, that’s what VAR is there for.
We’ll have a chance to see how the FA and PGMOL react to their humiliation when we play tomorrow. Genuine impartiality or sneaky revenge?
Conflict of interest today, do I watch the WSL NLD kick off 11.30. Or The Old Farm Derby? kick off at noon?
The panel is impartial which is no doubt why Mikel’s case had a fair hearing. But, De Zerbi has had his own rant too so we might actually see some fair decisions. Or equally as bad. 😂
We will see some creative refereeing as ever . Going on the past evidence we will also very likely have to score several legit goals to make one count therefore it’s 1-0 to the Gunners.
Welcome LeMmy, any idea who the ref is?
Tim Robinson, I just looked. And he lives in West Sussex….
Afternoon all!
The referees in England don’t stop the game (which is good) but they are not good at the disciplinary aspect in certain decisions in the game. Not being able to be criticized, or being able to be and penalizing those who criticize them, is wrong.
Jm, you might as well have stopped after the ‘the refs are not very good…’
Arsenal Women lose one nil in the WSL, awful refereeing every touch on a Tottenham player was adjudged to be a foul, almost every foul on an Arsenal player was waived aside. The only decision the referee got right was to book the Spur’s ‘keeper for time wasting.
How many chances did Arsenal waste? Too too many, a bit like the men…
No Jimenez for Fulham when we play them as he’s just been sent off. Straight red. VAR involved to upgrade a yellow card but they couldn’t spot an elbow into the face of Nketiah last weekend. Weird eh….
31 shots in all with eight on target, of those on target almost none caused their ‘keeper any difficulty.
The one against the post was really unlucky though.
City dropped two points at home to Palace.
Morning Rico and all, Let’s hope Man U, can cores an upset and beat Liverpool and we win then back on top
Morning Geoff, for what it’s worth, I think Liverpool will batter Utd and then Ten Hag will get the sack. 😆
New post up