Despite the more intriguing nature of second and third-round group stage games, it seems as though bad refereeing decisions have unfortunately marred several World Cup games. The decision of Koman Coulibaly to puzzlingly disallow a seemingly legitimate winning goal for the USA against Slovenia, and the even more baffling decisions of Frenchman Stephane Lannoy to send off Brazil’s Kaka and to allow Luis Fabiano’s second goal to stand despite two instances of handball during a clash against Cote d’Ivoire have inevitably placed the standard of World Cup refereeing under scrutiny. USA coach Bob Bradley, understandably infuriated by the decision of Coulibaly, was perplexed by FIFA’s lack of clarity with regards to refereeing issues.
Speaking at his side’s base camp, Bradley stated, “We’re all accustomed to the fact that if it’s an NFL playoff game and there’s a call that’s in question, there will be a statement by the league from the referees, but FIFA operates differently.”
The ire aimed at the aforementioned referees has been exacerbated by the refusal of officials to explain their decisions. Is a more stringent approach from FIFA required to curb bad decisions in matches?
The merits and demerits of video technology have been discussed and dissected several times (click here to see an earlier article I wrote on this issue), so I won’t spend time delving in to this area. However, the short nature of international tournaments means that the margins between success and failure are unbelievably fine; had Landon Donovan failed to net his last-gasp winner against Algeria yesterday, Coulibaly’s decision to rule out Maurice Edu’s ‘goal’ from six days ago would have borne much more prominent significance. Although Coulibaly is ‘highly unlikely’ to participate in further World Cup matches, punishing referees after abject displays is often scant consolation to teams disadvantaged by incorrect decisions.
With regards to the issuing of erroneous yellow and red cards, there is very little retroactive action FIFA can take to diminish the significance of such a decision – if a team, incorrectly reduced to ten men, subsequently loses a match, FIFA cannot do anything to rectify refereeing wrongdoing. However, FIFA’s rules denote that neither the organisation nor the referee in question is required to explain a disputed decision. In doing so, FIFA fail to implement any sense of accountability, placing less pressure on referees to make the right decision.
Implementing such accountability would allow for referees to explain decisions and formally apologise, thus showing an intention to try and redress the victims of poor officiating, as well as helping to maintain consistency within the refereeing fraternity. I for one believe it is time that FIFA introduce a more stringent approach within the game.
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Click here to read an earlier article on the use of video technology within football
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These are two men that have a very important part to play in Liverpool’s immediate future, chairman Martin Broughton and manager Roy Hodgson. The 2009/10 campaign was one that Liverpool fans will want to forget as quickly as possible and the best way to do that is to make a storming start next season. It’s hard to argue which of the British duo has a harder job. Off the pitch Broughton has been given the task of selling the Anfield club, something he hopes to do by the end of the summer transfer window. I’m sure every Liverpool fan would be glad to see the back of Tom Hicks and George Gillett as soon as possible. After being hired by the Reds last week, former Fulham manager Hodgson has the equally difficult task of firing Liverpool to success on the field. That will be no mean feat given the performances of last season, but what are the two 60 plus year olds discussing here, the availability of transfer funds perhaps?
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Bolton Wanderers boss Owen Coyle remains hopeful of being able to draft in two or three new players before the transfer window shuts at the end of August.
Coyle has so far brought in Robbie Blake, Martin Petrov and Marcos Alonso since the end of last season and is aware that his squad requires several more new faces.
He told the Bolton News: “I’m always looking to improve and I’m not finished yet.
“It’s easy to say there will be two or three new signings, but what I can say is that I’ll look to add a couple more before the end of the month.
“You can never say definitively that it will happen, because, as you saw with the Marcos Alonso deal, it can be quite complex.
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“We’ll do our utmost to improve the squad by the start of the season and if not, certainly the close of the window.”
Despite Manchester City’s transfer window shopping expected to surpass the £100m mark, this summer’s transfer market has been a decidedly low key affair. With less than two weeks to go until the new Premier League season kicks off, there has been very little transfer activity between the clubs who make up the richest football league on the planet.
While the total Premier League net spend on players last summer was down 10%, the final total still reached a whopping £450m. This season the total so far is just over £170m, with Manchester City accounting for over £75m of that total amount. Whilst there is still a long way to go until the transfer window slams shut on August 31st, it is unlikely we will see a huge increase in spending from top flight clubs.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has already confirmed he is likely to make just one or two signings before the start of the new season and has spoken in the past about his refusal to run the club into debt with over-priced superstar signings. Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti believes his Double winning side have more than enough quality to compete on all levels again next season and is unlikely to make any major changes. Liverpool have been looking to enhance their squad with free transfers and Tottenham will again look to improve with a few high quality additions.
However it is wise old owl Sir Alex Ferguson’s assessment of the current transfer market which is most intriguing:
“The enormous amounts of money they [players] are paid, not just for the transfer fees but for their salaries, I don’t think it rests easy with supporters,” commented Ferguson. “We’re in such a competitive world now that you’re hamstrung in relation to the borders people will stretch to get the best players.
“Over the years we’ve bought players for quite high amounts like Berbatov, Ferdinand, Verón and Rooney. We try to equate how we’re going to get proper value before we do it. When I see some of the values now, and you’re talking about players at £40m or £30m-odd, we have to assess our own players first.”
Ferguson obviously thinks the current market is inflated, namely because of the enormous amounts of money lavished on players by Real Madrid and Manchester City over the last two seasons. In comparison, Ferguson has added a few modest signings to his United squad, refusing to spend the majority of the world record £80m he received for the attacking talents of Cristiano Ronaldo last summer.
The current dip in spending follows the pattern of January’s transfer window, which saw the lowest transfer spending since the mid-season window opened in 2003 coming in at £30m, £140m less than the season before. Following the credit crunch, cash-flow crisis and the recession, clubs have began to extend a tighter grip over their finances and have looked to reduce the amount they are spending on new players.
The summer spending low comes after Portsmouth became the first ever Premier League club to enter administration and docked points in February earlier this year with spiralling debts of £60m. The south coast club faced a winding up order as years of financial mismanagement came to a head, with reports the club were spending a mind-blowing 90% of their income on player’s wages. Even Spanish champions Barcelona were reportedly running at a £60m loss last season and are over 442m Euros in debt, even having to take out bank loans in order to pay their player’s wages.
Football finance has come under scrutiny in the spotlight of the recession with sports business experts Deloitte warning that the current level of spending in the Premier League is not sustainable unless changes are made. UEFA have made plans to tackle the debt which threatens to engulf English football and has approved financial fair play plans. Clubs must not be running at a loss following a three year period starting from 2012 and failure to meet these requirements will mean clubs will be banned from participating in European football.
The current level of debt in European football remains a massive challenge for both clubs and UEFA to tackle. UEFA are concerned about the level of spending which has been seen in recent seasons, reporting that over 50% of Europe’s top clubs are losing money every year. “I would not paint such a cataclysmic picture of major clubs folding because football has always shown there can be solutions but having said that, we are seriously worried to see these trends,” said UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino.
“The clubs themselves are worried, the leagues are worried. These are the reasons that pushed us to take the decision to do something.”
Premier League clubs have made small steps in addressing their finances under the current restricted economic, however there is still a long way to go before Premier League clubs can start to run with a healthy profit and not rely high interest bank loans. Premier League spending this summer shows that clubs have started to change their spending habits, albeit some out of necessity. However as Manchester City up the ante in their pursuit of trophies and more clubs are taken over by wealthy foreign businessmen, it will be difficult for clubs to sit back and refuse to match them in the transfer market.
With the PL season nearly upon us, let’s see the WAGS that will be keeping the players on their toes. Click on image to VIEW gallery
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Nigeria central defender Danny Shittu is weighing up a number of options after ending his time at Bolton Wanderers.
The 30-year-old struggled to make his mark during two seasons with the Trotters, having previously impressed with both Watford and Queens Park Rangers.
Shittu told Sky Sports:"I believe quitting Bolton was the right step to take as I didn't have options to play at Bolton.
"I wish the club all the best in the future and now I have to find myself a new club.
"I am now reviewing my options and there are quite a few sides interested in me from Europe and the Middle East.
"Hopefully I can announce where my future lies shortly after I return from international duty."
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Scottish giants Celtic are also rumoured to be interested in Shittu, having tried to sign the stopper earlier on in his career.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
It would be excusable to believe that the sweeper had become a moribund position in modern football. For supporters it is not an enticing prospect to see a striker or attacking midfielder substituted for an extra defender. A sweeper traditionally plays behind the two central defenders, tasked with marking space rather than the man and clearing anything others fail to deal with. However the role was reintroduced by two British sides recently who faced Manchester United and Chelsea at their home grounds. Glasgow Rangers and Blackpool achieved contrasting success but will teams facing daunting opposition away from home be inclined to field an extra defender and apply the padlock?
For managers who decide to include a sweeper in a five man defence, the priority is to keep a clean sheet and disturb the opponent’s attackers. Rangers opted for this system against United in the Champions League last week and frustrated a team which had been rotated but did incorporate Wayne Rooney. The Scottish team’s 40-year old captain David Weir adopted this lesser seen role although cynics would argue that they defended with nine men as Kenny Miller was an isolated figure up front. Recently recalled to the Scottish national team, Weir was arguably the man of the match as he gave an assured performance which reduced the illustrious home team to a series of long range efforts.
The following weekend in the Premier League saw Ian Holloway choose to place Alex Baptiste in a central defensive three, in the faint hope of halting Chelsea’s goal scoring juggernaut. The rampant Blues scored within 71 seconds and added three more before the conclusion of the first half. The tactic had backfired with the Tangerines unable to keep their shape at the back and were mesmerised when Chelsea broke with pace. However in the traditional mould of the sweeper, Baptiste managed to occasionally get forward, evading his markers and fired a low, rasping shot at Petr Cech.
Holloway acknowledged that his tactical change had not followed the prescribed plan. But he evidently felt compelled to attempt something different given his assertion that Chelsea are “light years ahead.” He additionally suggested that the disparate PL features a number of internal divisions, reaffirming the gulf in quality between those at the top and the bottom. Newcastle outscored Chelsea in a thrilling League Cup encounter last night but few teams would travel to Stamford Bridge, Old Trafford or the Emirates in the league hoping to replicate that performance. Should more sides, therefore, consider this defensive and attritional stance when facing incomparable opposition?
The notion of not conceding and hoping to possibly grab a goal is associated with the Italian word, catenaccio which translates as padlock. This well known term is utilised to describe a team intent on defending and using pace to spring a counter attack when the opportunity arises. It is best associated with a five man defence and the inclusion of a sweeper. In this system the onus is on keeping a strong defensive shape and employing the last man to ‘sweep up’ if the two conventional centre-backs are exposed. However a sweeper should ideally be a cultured footballer, able to make clean tackles and swiftly distribute long range passes up field. As the opposition are invited to come forward and apply greater pressure, an accurate pass from defence can release quick forward players to exploit the vacated spaces. Famous sweepers in the modern game have included AC Milan’s Franco Baresi, France’s Laurent Blanc and Arsenal’s Tony Adams.
Today the role is rarely seen, particularly in England but many defenders display the hallmarks of a sweeper. Spurs’ Michael Dawson has the ability to make unnervingly precise long range passes and John Terry can often be seen making astute forward runs. Although this position/formation should not be viewed egregiously, it would understandably irritate spectators who would view it as anti football in the entertainment driven top flight. Yet when playing exceptional opposition the first task is to make your defence impregnable. Otherwise the reigning PL Champions will rack up more than four every week.
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Today, football is bigger than ever. The number of followers is ever-increasing and the money involved has reached epic proportions. But what has actually happened to the standard of play and how does it compare to years gone by?
There is no doubting that advances in technology and the increasing money in the sport has led to some major changes being implemented throughout the sport, even at grass roots level. When Arsene Wenger joined Arsenal much was made of the way he was able to change the philosophy of how a professional footballer should live their life. Never before had the diets and the training regimes of players been so closely monitored. The almost instantaneous success he achieved made others take notice.
It could be argued that these improvements have made people more athletic. In fact, perhaps they have contributed to the evolution of the human race. If you were to look at the world record for the 100m sprint, over time it has kept dropping – maybe people are evolving and becoming faster. The same could be said for the marathon.
Either way, there has clearly been a step up in terms of the standard of athlete. This is no exception for football. Many people talk about the great players of the past such as Maradona and Pelé. Whilst it is almost impossible to compare players of different eras, it would be very interesting to see if these players would still be stand-outs if they played in today’s game. You often see players with a very high standard of technical ability struggle in the top leagues today. It has become a requisite that every player is not only technically brilliant, but also a super athlete. I often ask myself whether Maradona would have been able to keep pace in a league such as the Premiership today with the lifestyle he used to live.
It seems clear that to excel in the world of football today you must be incredibly dedicated. Players cannot afford to live the lifestyle that many footballers did in the past otherwise the results will be obvious on the pitch. Two of the greats of English football, George Best and Bobby Moore, could be seen down the pub after the game on a Saturday. If that were to happen in today’s game, it would lead to them being fined or even sacked.
In the modern game, not only do players train more, but they train in more sophisticated, scientific ways. The improvements in technology (e.g. the pitches, the boots and the training equipment) have led to more effective time spent on the training ground. In my opinion, this has resulted in players also being technically better than they ever have been. With players being stronger, fitter and quicker, it seems almost inhuman the way Lionel Messi can waltz round a whole team. In older times, when George Best used to play, teams would often only have very small squads. This meant that players often had to play through injury, especially with the medical facilities being far less effective. When you look at it this way, does what George Best did compare to what Messi does today? In my eyes it is a clear no.
Yet there is still a majority who would regard the great players of past generations as the best ever. I often wonder whether people consider the overall improving standards or just judge it by who stood out the most from their generations.
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It is disappointing that we will never find out how many of these players compared, but judging by the improvements that have been made in the last fifty years, the future of football looks very exciting indeed.
The FA Cup is underway again and we’ve had our first of many upsets. Rochdale 2-3 FC United of Manchester. On a chilly Friday evening at Spotlands, the magic of the cup was in full flow. Goals, drama, and Adrian Chiles reporting from a caravan made for compelling viewing. I enjoyed the match as a neutral, but never have I been so biased towards a team I have no affiliation towards.
FC United of Manchester formed in 2005, after Malcolm Glazer and company forced Manchester United shareholders to sell up. The Glazers have privately owned the club ever since, so a number of Man United fans turned their backs on Old Trafford and formed the ‘Red Rebels’ as a result of these events. This is why I see Friday evening’s scenes as a victory for football, but more specifically a victory for fans.
I have nothing against Rochdale. They played their part in a cup tie worthy of television coverage and maybe deserved more from the game. But it’s so interesting to see how far raw fan power can get you. Admirably rare in fact. To put things into perspective, consider how unfairly clubs now treat fans. Ticket prices are ever increasing, often pricing your everyday fan to revert to the armchair for their football fix. This considered, the fans turning their back on such a global brand as Manchester United is to be noted on many levels, especially in the Old Trafford board room.
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It made me proud to be a fan of the sport. Seeing fellow football fans protesting against what is wrong, and doing it in a successful way. Many of whom have followed FC United from day one, or converted from ‘The Red Devils’ to ‘The Red Rebels’ during their existence. Resisting the temptation of watching Rooney, Vidic and Scholes every week in favour of the rough and tumble of The Evo-Stick Premier Division. I have to say I was rejuvenated by an aspect of the FC United following on Friday. These are fans that have celebrated numerous League Championships, FA Cup wins, and European glory. Yet the passion they greeted Friday’s final whistle with, was phenomenal. It ignited emotions that are normally seen after Man United dumped Barcelona out of the Champions League. A mass pitch invasion and chanting of The Red Devils songs ensued. Raw passion from real fans. A massive component of the game we all love.
Is this the first step to fans regaining an element of power in their Club? Maybe, because we shouldn’t be ignored as fans. Without us there would be less passion, less interest, less atmosphere and empty grounds across the country. As an integral part of a Club, we have every right to be heard. And hopefully FC United will continue to make noise.
The Club have certainly returned to the roots of football. Sensible ticket prices, standing on the terraces, rubbing shoulders with real fans who are there for the football, and only the football. Miles away from prawn sandwiches, and where the closest thing to a corporate box is a goalkeeper standing in a penalty area in his pre match suit.
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Admittedly it’s still early days for FC United in the 2010 FA Cup and they may struggle to overcome Brighton or Woking in the 2nd Round. But they’ve certainly got the media attention and glory that their initiative deserves. How far they can go? Only time will tell but I for one will keep a keen eye on the developments of one of the country’s most unique clubs.
“It’s a f****** conspiracy!” The angry lady behind me shouted in the general direction of Mark Clattenburg as he neared my side of the pitch. “You’re a f****** cheat. I hope you’re f****** happy with your f****** paycheque, ref! You’ve f****** earned it today!” She, like everyone else in the stand, was annoyed that the referee of Manchester City’s defeat to Arsenal last Sunday awarded a goal kick to the visitors, overruling his linesman who had given a corner kick to the home side.
I’ve never truly understood the chant “you’re not fit to referee!”. Of course, the influence is subconscious, but it’s not exactly going to win the referee around to giving the next 50-50 decision to your team.
In fairness to the angry lady, she was right about that call; it was incorrect for Mark Clattenburg to award the goal kick and ignore the decision of his assistant. What didn’t help her case is that she directed a similar torrent of abuse towards the referee after every decision he made that wasn’t in City’s favour. Of course, I wouldn’t expect any football fans of any club to have a totally unbiased view – I do it and you do it. It’s human nature that we all see decisions with our team in mind.
The atmosphere against Arsenal was very feisty, something that was caused by the fans’ perceived view that the referee had given an incorrect red card and then, later, an incorrect penalty, both against City. From where I was sitting, I felt aggrieved about the red card. Looking through my blue shaded glasses, I’d seen Boyata win the ball, but even I couldn’t convince myself that Fabregas had dived, despite my best efforts and the efforts of those around me who had successfully convinced themselves. I had to check with a Belgian friend of mine, who is biased towards all things Belgian, and he told me that both decisions were correct. If he couldn’t find a way for the offending Belgians to be let off, then I wasn’t going to be able to.
I feel sorry for Boyata. It was only his third Premier League start and he’s made a genuine attempt to win the ball from a forward dashing towards goal. There’s no question that he fouled him and no question that a red card was the correct decision, but it’s from instances like this that he will learn. With just five minutes played, allowing Chamakh a shot on goal would probably have been the better decision – with Hart in inspired form this season, there’s no guarantee he’d have scored if he had hit the target. Even if he had netted, it would have left City 85 minutes to pull back the 0-1 deficit with a full complement of players, instead of trying to win the game a man down.
However, there’s no doubt that he’s a rising talent in the City squad and one mistake doesn’t change that. That he was selected over Lescott will show to him how much the manager values him.
Now, of course, only the hardcore of the hardcore City fans are still contesting those two major decisions; the referee got them both correct. But, at the time, those two decisions, combined with a few incorrect yellow cards and fouls – which went both ways – ensured a vitriol of abuse from the home fans. In fact, I’d go as far as saying the Clattenburg’s performance in that match was better than his previous performance at Eastlands when he officiated the match with Blackburn.
There were other contentious decisions besides the sending off and penalty. Some blues are upset, and in my opinion rightly so, by Cesc Fabregas’s imaginary card waving antics towards the referee after Boyata’s foul. A few years ago we were told that it would be a bookable offence because it was ungentlemanly conduct or not in the spirit of the game, but it’s a ruling that’s been applied rather haphazardly since it was introduced. Fabregas may have been lucky to escape a card there mainly because he did it whilst the referee wasn’t looking at him.
But had he been shown a yellow card for that incident, it’s impossible to say that he would have been sent off for the foul he committed later; without getting into a metaphysical debate on causality, if he was on a yellow card he might not have made the challenge that led to the foul.
Continued on Page TWO
Later in the half, having already been shown a yellow card for a foul, a lot of the City support around me was convinced Fabregas should have been sent off for a second yellow card that, they believe, was given to wrong man. However, if my memory serves me correctly, the reason Djourou was shown the card was because he committed a foul and the ball broke to Tevez, who continued with the ball as the referee played the advantage. When Tevez lost the ball to Fabregas, it was clear there was no advantage and the play was brought back to where the foul was committed and a free kick was given.
There are, of course, some decisions by Mark Clattenburg on Sunday that I didn’t agree with. I do believe that Alex Song should have seen a second yellow card; principally because, having already been booked, he committed a very similar foul that had seen City’s Gareth Barry cautioned. Throw in the odd free kick wrongly awarded or ignored and this, to the angry lady at least, showed a definite bias against City.
But that inconsistency doesn’t prove that Mark Clattenburg cheated; it simply proves he is human.
Manchester City vs. Arsenal, however, wasn’t a particularly bad game for him, either. He has no anti-City agenda as seems to be the general consensus amongst my fellow City fans. A few wrong decisions on Sunday and the fact that he gave Craig Bellamy a second yellow card for diving when he was tripped almost a year ago when Mark Hughes was still in charge just proves he can get things wrong.
Those same fans forget, for example, the advantage he played that allowed Wright-Phillips to cross for Adebayor’s header in the City vs. Arsenal fixture last season. In fact, before Sunday, City had never lost a Premier League game with him in charge. Decisions do balance out over the course of a season and City have already had a slice of good and bad.
In fact, it’s all too easy for the word ‘cheat’ to roll off the tongue. It’s a serious allegation and one I don’t believe to be true of the game (there are so many things wrong with football, but this, in my view, isn’t one of them). Making mistakes isn’t cheating. But, then again, I suppose chanting ‘incompetent’ or ‘having a bad day at the office’ doesn’t scan.
The most interesting aspect of the allegation of a “conspiracy” to stop City from breaking into the top four is that, this season, City have been on the receiving end of some quite beneficial decisions. Take Blackpool away: Tevez’s first goal was offside and, on his second, he clearly fouled the defender he stole the ball off. The match previous to that, Sam Williamson gave away a penalty for a fair tackle on Tevez outside the box.
And if there was an enormous movement to protect the established top four, then Tottenham wouldn’t have just pipped City to the post last season. Surely both City and Tottenham would have been out of the running by then?
In fact, on one particular City forum, it’s become a bit of a predictable occurrence to see a thread posted about who the referee for the next game will be, followed by comments about how that referee never gives City anything or how that referee hates the club. It gets tiresome and clearly isn’t true.
Blaming the referee for a defeat like Sunday’s is an easy conclusion to come to. It absolves the team from any blame (not that I feel City should be blamed in any way). I can understand where Mancini is coming from when he says that City’s performance shows how far the team has come; 0-3 was a very flattering scoreline towards an Arsenal side that were matched for large portions of the game by a team with a man less.
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But it’s not Clattenburg’s fault that Boyata fouled Chamakh and nor is it his fault that the rules say he had to send Boyata off. It’s not even his fault that another referee in another match with a very similar incident has incorrectly shown a yellow card instead of a red.
Consistency is what is needed in decisions, but consistently correct decisions.
Talk of a conspiracy against City is embarrassing. There just isn’t one.
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Harry Redknapp sees no reason why his Tottenham side cannot win this season's Premier League title, particularly after they hit back from two goals down to beat Arsenal 3-2 in the north London derby.
Spurs were outclassed in the first half and were fortunate to only be 2-0 down at the interval, Samir Nasri and Marouane Chamakh netting for the Gunners.
However, Redknapp's team were transformed after the interval and hit back to claim the three points thanks to Gareth Bale's goal, a Rafael van der Vaart penalty and Younes Kaboul's late winner.
The weekend results have left Spurs six points adrift of stuttering leaders Chelsea, leading Redknapp to say:"It's wide open this league this year, wide open.
"Chelsea aren't as good as they were, Man United aren't as good as they were three or four years ago. They're still excellent teams but they're not the force they were. They were almost invincible, the pair of them.
"I think Tottenham are now getting closer and the championship is wide open. I said that to the players on Friday morning. 'Why can't you win the championship? Who says you can't?'.
"It's wide open for somebody who can put a run together. It's there for someone to have real go at it this year. Why should we all be fearful and keep saying, 'We can't win it'?
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"I wouldn't be saying it if we had a bad group of players. I'm a realist, I'm not dreaming. It's difficult to do but it's not impossible.
"This is the best chance anyone's going to get this year. There's very little to choose between the top five or six teams at the moment."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email