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Man Utd boss blasts ref, but who is to blame?
Published by Ian John on October 26, 2009
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Yesterday’s frantic derby game at Anfield was, as always, only predictable in that there would be moments of refereeing controversy in amongst the high-tempo pace of the game. That Liverpool won 2-0, deservedly and United played, by their own admission, poorly seems to be neither here nor there for manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Gracious as he was in admitting his sides failings and Liverpool’s superiority on the day, he could not resist a swipe at official Andre Marriner, accusing him of getting key decisions wrong and being unfairly influenced by the baying Anfield crowd.
While such occurences of Fergie ref baiting when United do not win a game, are as predictable as the lunar cycle, one wonders who is to blame for this and I believe strongly that for all many fans would love to lay the blame at the door of Sir Alex, the real blame lies with the F.A for not dealing with the offence when they happen.
The limp-wristed gesture towards not demonising officials, that is the FA’s Respect campaign, is an absolute joke if managers are allowed to make derogatory remarks about officials and get off with the equivalent of a tap on the wrist. By no means is Sir Alex Ferguson alone in this, Rafa Benitez, Harry Redknapp, Arsene Wenger, Sam Allardyce indeed almost ANY and EVERY manager you care to name has blasted an official at some point or another for seemingly officiating against their team and yet the FA’s punishment meted out for this is tantamount to nothing.
Is it any wonder therefore that managers have now cottoned onto the fact that this can be used effectively to pressurise officials? The comments made by managers after games are not just on the minds of officials for that period only, but also the next time they officiate at a game. Usually assisted by an article in the press where the erstwhile manager is only too happy to point out that the official “had it in” for his team in that game and he holds out no hope that the official will be any less anti his club in the next game.
This puts officials in a no win position, regardless of what he does, he is always going to be seen by managers as “anti” their club. It is an inividious and thankless position to be in and one that managers can use due to the ineffectiveness of FA sanctions.
Respect for officials will come when managers have a healthy respect for the sanctions they face for criticising them following a game. A £5000 fine is nothing at the top level. Nor is a touchline ban for a game or two. They are trite meaningless crimes that have no effect on altering the behaviour of managers for the better.
If the FA is truly concerned about respect for its officials, it needs to have deterrents that work. A fine of any kind is not the answer, nor is a touchline ban. If you want managers to respect officials and not call into question their impartiality, which is the absolute vital condition for ANY official, then the punishments need to be severe. By severe I am talking severe fines for the club (hundreds of thousands of pounds), then onto bans for an appropriate length of time. Such as half a season, then points deductions for teams. It sounds Draconian, but would Sir Alex, Rafa, Arsene and co be so quick to blast officials if they knew that their words would result in a £800,000 fine, 6 points off their totals and the fact that they’d not be allowed to watch the game other than on a TV somewhere in the stadium, with no contact with their players or backroom staff for half a season? Would a board want a manager who can seldom affect the game in some way?
But it will never happen. The clubs hold too much power, the FA too little backbone and as such officials will always be the reasons why teams lose games. Who’d be a referee?
Image Courtesy of ***Sergio Savaman*** at Flickr.com
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When's a punishment not a punishment? | deciphersoccer.com on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 9:25 am
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