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Manchester United's refereeing complaints expose a short memory

Sir Alex Ferguson may be angry at Martin Atkinson but he has benefited from the referee's decisions before



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Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic confronts Martin Atkinson after being shown a red card against Chelsea. Photograph: Matt Dunham/AP As Tuesday night's Premier League meeting between Chelsea and Manchester United pootled towards half-time I received an email from a reader of our minute-by-minute coverage. "Can I just say that Martin Atkinson is one of the few refs I tend to appreciate on a regular basis, more often than I curse him anyway," it read. An hour or so later, Sir Alex Ferguson begged to differ.
"You hope you get a really strong referee in games like this," he said, after his side had been defeated by Chelsea." It was a major game for both clubs and you want a fair referee, you know ... You want a strong referee, anyway, and we didn't get that."
Ferguson's main gripe was that Atkinson should have sent off David Luiz after the Chelsea defender, already on a yellow card, fouled Wayne Rooney. "Nothing's done and the referee's in front of it. He's then done Rooney, clear as day, and he's six yards from him. Doesn't do anything," said Ferguson. It was hard to disagree. Indeed the Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti, said Luiz "might have been lucky" to stay on the pitch.
Ferguson may want to bear in mind, though, that United had already benefited from a refereeing decision at that point. Rooney shouldn't even have been on the pitch from the start of the match after his elbow on James McCarthy against Wigan.
Atkinson's decision to award Chelsea a penalty also angered Ferguson, who described it as "so soft". It was certainly marginal – Yuri Zhirkov ran into Chris Smalling's leg, rather than the defender moving to foul him – but it was doubtful enough that Graham Poll described it in the Daily Mail as "soft, but just about the correct call".
So Atkinson got one big decision wrong on Tuesday and made another questionable call. But that's not enough to justify the accusations from many fans in the chatrooms that he's somehow biased towards Chelsea. The statistic that has been pulled out is that Chelsea have never lost a game when Atkinson has been in charge. However, nine of those 11 games have been at Stamford Bridge during a period when Chelsea have lost only five out of 51 Premier League games at home. That's around one game in 10, so Atkinson's record isn't a statistical freak. Additionally, in those 12 games Atkinson has actually shown more cards to Chelsea (16 yellows, one red) than to their opponents (14 yellow, two red).
Atkinson has exhibited a fondness for the odd card or seven this season. He's shown more reds than any other Premier League referee (nine) and only Phil Dowd (84) has shown more yellows than Atkinson (79). But then again only Mike Dean has refereed more games this season and Atkinson has actually shown fewer yellows per game (3.8) than Phil Dowd (4.0), Lee Mason (4.6) and Anthony Taylor (4.2).
In Ferguson's defence, he didn't suggest outright that Atkinson was a secret Chelsea fan. There was more of an suggestion that he isn't "strong" enough to control big games. He was in charge last season when John Terry scored a disputed winner in the same fixture and replays showed he had incorrectly awarded Aston Villa a penalty in the Birmingham derby, while Everton were incensed when Atkinson blew for full-time as they bore down on goal in an intense 3-3 draw with Manchester United in September.
But in perhaps the most highly pressurised game of Atkinson's career, he was absolutely correct. In the maelstrom of a local derby the deciding goal was scored in the 96th minute despite the fact that the second official had indicated there would be four minutes of added time. Atkinson had kept his head and tacked on another two minutes because there had been a goal celebration, a substitution and a one-man pitch invasion. Manchester City were the aggrieved party that day. The man who scored the late, late winner was Michael Owen. Of Manchester United.

 
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    Raycun     2 March 2011 1:38PM

    I don't think referees (in general or Atkinson in particular) are biased against United. I think most United fans posting on here would agree.
    Refs are human, they make mistakes. Big teams tend to get more decisions than smaller teams (but not all the time, because often refs will feel they need to make it clear they're not biased, which exerts psychological pressure the other way), and home teams more than away teams (but not all the time, because...)
    It does get a little wearing when every decision that goes against United gets thrown down the memory hole after a couple of days, so that next time United get a decision in their favour the outrage machine can crank up again.


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    suedonym     2 March 2011 1:41PM

    Tom I think you need to realise that when Ferguson uses 'strong' in this context he clearly means 'obsequious to my wishes'. On this criteria Atkinson clearly demonstrated his weakness last night. Sending a United player off and awarding a slightly dubious penalty (of the type United get 8 times out of 10 at OT).
    The gall of the man.




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    rusticred     2 March 2011 1:45PM

    So Atkinson got one big decision wrong last night and made another questionable call. But that's not enough to justify the accusations from many fans in the chatrooms that he's somehow biased towards Chelsea.
    ​
    Presumably he didn't see Terry handle tha ball, he didn't see Ruiz elbow and body check Chicarito, nor the foul on Rooney,he didn't see Ivanovic foul Nani,
    No in the games that matter Untied get one refereeing decision for them and the whole media world goes apoplectic, while a catalogue of errors by the officials in a high profile game is cast as really nothing. Yeah I know where you are coming from.
    One game is not so bad but two consecutive games against the same team should bear some scrutiny.



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    FORZA77     2 March 2011 1:47PM

    all mind games from SAF for the upcoming games, starting at anfield
    you really think after the rooney incident an intelligent bloke, which he is, beleives what he said last night? pressure and scruitiny is now on the ref in the MU LFC game, and all man u games on the run in
    i am not a man u fan



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    Cbass     2 March 2011 1:48PM

    The most annoying thing about this is not 3 days ago, Fergie defended a plainly wrong Mark Clattenberg by saying "the referee has made his decision and you have to respect that".
    3 days later, 3 bloomin days, he has the cheek, gall, front, hypocrisy to state the exact opposite, directly questioning not only the decision (which was 50/50 but according the rules correct), but the entire standing and basis of employment of a referee.


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    itrubsthelotion     2 March 2011 1:48PM

    I don't think Atkinson is biased against United either, but then neither does Fergie. Fergie's complaint was that Atkinson is weak; a homer, if you like. There's every evidence to suggest he's right.


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    Eccentrix     2 March 2011 1:49PM

    Facts, statistical evidence and logical explanations for events.
    Who do you think you are? Jonathan Wilson?
    Tell us about how this result points to United crumbling at the tail-end of a difficult season, how their aging squad is showing signs of slowing down, how Rooney is over-rated and how Chelsea showed their resurgence means that United need to watch their backs between now and the end of the season.
    Facts...sheesh!!!


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    BarbedWireKisses     2 March 2011 1:49PM

    alfieR
    Either way, he reffed poorly yesterday.
    ​
    No he didn't. He got a few marginal things right and a few marginal things wrong as all refs do. He didn't make an howlers, (and we all know that it is possible to get away with a challenge like Luiz did, or even an elbow, from time to time.)


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    BarbedWireKisses     2 March 2011 1:53PM

    itrubsthelotion
    I don't think Atkinson is biased against United either, but then neither does Fergie. Fergie's complaint was that Atkinson is weak; a homer, if you like. There's every evidence to suggest he's right.
    ​
    To be fair, when it comes to spotted a 'homer' you'd have to take the word of anyone associated with Old Trafford. They see them practically every other week at home.


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    gabrielcasey     2 March 2011 1:53PM

    @rusticred
    One game is not so bad but two consecutive games against the same team should bear some scrutiny.
    ​
    ...and how should we apply this 'scrutiny' that you are talking about? Watch the matches another few times to double-check that the cameras didn't pick up Ancelotti handing Atkinson a big brown envelope? A search of Atkinson's bedroom for Chelsea paraphernalia perhaps? Put Atkinson on the rack until he confesses?
    Referees have bad games sometimes. There is no conspiracy and this stuff tends to balance out over the course of a season, as Mr. Lutz points out.


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    plectrum     2 March 2011 1:53PM

    I'm a Chelsea fan, so clearly biased. The debate over the ref is a smokescreen - Man U got beat by the better team on the night. Anyone who suggests they weren't thoroughly outplayed in the second half (after shading the first) needs their head examined. The ref had very little to do with that, and you can forensically examine anything to death and prove whatever conspiracy theories may be dear to your heart (for example, Chelsea haven't been able to buy a penalty of late).


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    ChampionshipGlory16     2 March 2011 1:55PM

    yes the facts do back it up. oh, wait a minute, did graham poll back the ridiculous penalty decision in the daily mail? oh, that's alright then. is he the prat who booked a player three times?


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    rusticred     2 March 2011 1:55PM

    @TomLutz
    Ignoring penalty appeals and blatant fouls by one side, while acquiescing the same to the other, is not the same as adding two minutes of extra time, both teams have equal chances, in one while one team is penalised in the other.


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    radionine     2 March 2011 1:55PM

    One year it's Simon Beck aiding Chelsea. Now Atkinson.
    Face it, too many Cup competitions/games end up being decided on blundering refs instead of the skill of the players.


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    SanMiguel     2 March 2011 1:56PM

    Assessments of referees seem more focussed and a more common consensus can be built up when its two "big" teams involved. The issues surorunding whether Luiz should have been sent off and whether it should have been a penalty against Smalling seem to mirror (as best a live sporting event can in practice) the shout for a penalty against John Terry in the first half and the late sending off of Vidic. That all of these decisions went in favour of the home team suggests that advantage has far greater relevance when you cancel out the "big" team factor.
    Basically the identification of some referees as a "homers" seems to have been forgotten recently. While they no doubt have an unenviable task with trial by TV, the lack of respect, consistency and accountability between, for and given by the referees cannot improve when such blatant prejudice is on view for all to see. At a time when Graham Poll can write a critique of a former colleagues performance in a national newspaper but the same referee is not available to offer explanation for decisions made the situation seems as far from being resolved as it ever was.
    Perhaps this is the difficulty: sharpened egos (the referees) being left very little power in the face of arrogant, impatient prima donnas (the players) and a self perpetuating media are left to conclude their only instrument of control is that most blunt object of any arbitrator - the power to say "no". No to public explanation, no to accusations of poor decision making, no to challenges for independent analysis.


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    SevenEleven     2 March 2011 1:56PM

    Does anyone know why he disallowed the early Chelsea goal? I couldn't see anything wrong with it....


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    FlyingBadger     2 March 2011 1:57PM

    Graham Poll described it in the Daily Mail as "soft, but just about the correct call."
    ​
    So that makes it ok then? Since when did running "into Chris Smalling's leg, rather than the defender moving to foul him" constitute a penalty? By that reckoning anyone could run into a defender and fall over in the box to win a penalty.
    United weren't strong enough in the second half, invited pressure and ended up losing. Chelsea played better in the second half and won, so that's the end of it, but suggesting that actually was a penalty is pathetic.


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    MaurizioGaudino     2 March 2011 1:57PM

    Great article Tom, you are starting to sneakily become one of my favourite writers - not afraid to put your views forward. Though I can't bring myself to admit Atkinson got it right in the derby, even though all evidence points towards it being the correct call.
    I hope Ferguson is held accountable for questioning the referee yet again, otherwise Utd have got away with way too much this week for my liking...


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    wilforeilly1984     2 March 2011 1:57PM

    I like this article A LOT.
    I know I should be able to ignore it after all this time, but goodness me, Fergie, just shut up. Wasn't there a stage where United went literally years without a penalty being given against them at OT? Then when one was, Keane/Stam/Beckham etc. all went apoplectic at Andy D'Urso.
    I mean seriously, United fans, do you GENUINELY think you are hard done by on the refereeing front or do you just see Fergie say it and blindly follow?


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    spiritulized     2 March 2011 1:59PM

    he was rubbish the whole game. i havent seen a game so poorly managed by a referee since the barca chelsea game.
    I can some people saying 'short memory but rooney got away with it', we all know he shouldnt have, and Luiz shouldnt have got a way with this either, and Ivanovic should have been carded for tackles in the first half,
    it was a shocking game the ref. I'll be surprised if he's doing any premire league games over the coming weeks.
    to plectrum, your wrong. Man u were far superior in the first half, and we didnt come out of the blocks i the second half and we didnt show enough fight early on, but its hard to play well when you get clattered and nothing happens, then we make a small tackle and it gets penalised. watch the game again son


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    wilforeilly1984     2 March 2011 1:59PM

    p.s. if you think you are, have a look at the Carling Cup final last year and find a reason for me why Vidic wasn't sent off.


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    gixxerman006     2 March 2011 1:59PM

    You missed out (funnily enough) the biggest game-changing fact of them all, 5 minutes in John Terry clearly leaned into the ball in the box and blocked it with his left arm.
    It was as clear-cut a deliberate hand-ball as any seen this year.....but naturally being John Terry the ref was suddenly struck blind and chose not to see it.
    But of course Smalling's far lesser 'crime' screamed 'penalty' - just as the game drew to a close - pretty much guaranteeing the Chelsea win.
    (of and there's the not soo small matter of Luiz and Ivanovic cynically on to kick lumps out of Nani et al until they got their 1 yellow collected & then were replaced)
    All water under the bridge now (te'huh) and thems the breaks but Chelsea were lucky to get away with that last night, they won't in other games.
    Still, it is nice that whatever realistic outcome happens Chelsea are not going to retain a thing......and playing as they do they do not deserve it, so at least some sort of justice will be done.


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    BarbedWireKisses     2 March 2011 2:00PM

    rusticred, radionine
    The best team won, get over it.
    I'd understand your whinging if Utd didn't have so many big decisions go in their favour, FFS. Do you forget that Ronaldo played for you, or that Rooney plays for you now!!!!!!!!




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    plectrum     2 March 2011 2:03PM

    spiritulized - I disagree with you as vehemently as you disagree with me, father.



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    Hibernica     2 March 2011 2:05PM

    So, essentally Luiz should have received a second yellow card for fouling a player who wouldn't have been playing if the ref at Wigan had done his job properly.
    United's luck evens out over the two games then.


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    MuchPreferWinter     2 March 2011 2:05PM

    Cbass
    '3 days later, 3 bloomin days, he has the cheek, gall, front, hypocrisy to state the exact opposite, directly questioning not only the decision (which was 50/50 but according the rules correct), but the entire standing and basis of employment of a referee'
    Yeah he can do what he wants tho - he is one of the most successful people in the entire history of sport. We are pseudonyms on a message board. Besides it's great entertainment. He provides the 'other' for all the opposing fans who will actually miss him dearly when he is gone. They will never have such a fabulous human dartboard to spray their venom at again in all probability - managerial wise anyway. And to be fair I doubt in the cold light of day he will deny there can be a 'win some lose some' element to the game but Chelsea have been one of United's biggest rivals over the last decade and you have to admit the decisions keep going for them - this is not being ironed out over time. And don't mention Terry's slip - that was his own fault.


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    liverpoollad     2 March 2011 2:06PM

    Excellent piece, Tom.
    Facts, facts, facts. The only way to put bullies like Ferguson, Mourinho etc in their place.
    ANYWAY - the referee's decision is final. Absolutely final. Some go your way, some go against you.
    And to remove excuses. Utd were simply not good enough, and far too temperamental to get a result yesterday. Not that Chelsea were perfect, just good enough to pull through.
    Strange that the openness of this season is down to inconsistency, despite the huge gulf between the top 5 and everyone else




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    BarbedWireKisses     2 March 2011 2:08PM

    spiritulized
    I recall a Man U goalie clearly dropping a shot over the line at OT against Spurs in the last minute. Was a goal given? That is a worse piece of refereeing than anything I saw yesterday.
    The best team won and seeing that tw*t Rooney whinge his way through the game was a pleasure. Just surprised we didn't get another view of that killer elbow of his that only refs can't see.


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    ICharlie     2 March 2011 2:08PM

    Fergie didn't say he was biased, I think the inference is that he's a homer. Which your (piecemeal) facts would support.


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    FlyingBadger     2 March 2011 2:09PM

    @BarbedWireKisses
    I for one am not interested in the past or any other game. Rooney should have got a ban for the elbow last weekend, but he didn't. I couldn't give a shit. The fact is Chelsea players were allowed to kick the crap out of Nani, Rooney and Chicharito, in particular and got away with it.
    Somebody pointed out above that Chelsea were better in the second half, yes, I'd agree but United were far superior in the first and Chelsea came out in the second to get aggressive and bully United players. Ok, that's a tactical decision and lots of teams do it and the other team has to stand up to it. However, when an incompetent referee allows the aggressive players - Ivanovic, Luiz and Terry - to get away with consistently fouling opposition players and not receiving any punishment, then that affects the game overall, not just in those moments. If these 3 had been booked earlier then United, in my opinion, would have won, because they would have had to stop fouling and that is what is annoying. Giggs got booked for one foul.


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    JDKoopa     2 March 2011 2:11PM

    After the game last night I was furious, we'd been robbed, dodgy ref etc etc.
    With the benefit of sobriety and a good nights sleep I don't think Atkinson was biased or particulally incompetant, there's no point in looking at the pen in super slow mo using multiple angles because that isn't the view the ref has to make his decision.
    The game's gone and we lost, Fergie is moaning about the ref partly in frustration but partly to amplify the sense of injustice in the squad which will hopefully result in a win at Anfield.
    If they can play like they did in the first half for 90 mins they should be fine.


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    rusticred     2 March 2011 2:11PM

    I'd understand your whinging if Utd didn't have so many big decisions go in their favour, FFS. Do you forget that Ronaldo played for you, or that Rooney plays for you now!!!!!!!!
    ​
    The result is not the issue the issue is about referring in that sense the result is immaterial so why gloat? Further the myths relating to refereeing decisions for Utd is a myth, neatly displayed by the authors conclusions about the refereeing.
    Also the old chestnut about Ronaldo and Rooney is just another ABU sentiment. If Vidic had done what Ruiz did he would have been off a lot earlier. Obviously the Chelsea staff made the same observation & brought Ruiz off.


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    FeelingGroovy     2 March 2011 2:12PM

    Blatant penalty. At first look it seems harsh but on replay you can Smalling re-planted his leg a few inches to the left as Zhirkov went past. Right call.



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    cavelier5     2 March 2011 2:12PM

    I hate Fergie as much as the next man, but every manager currently in employment does the same thing. Complain to high heaven about decisions that went against your team while ignoring the ones that went in your favour. Arsene Wenger is a master. And Fergie is an absolute gent compared to Jose Mourinho.


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    FlyingBadger     2 March 2011 2:13PM

    @BarbedWireKisses
    The best team won and seeing that tw*t Rooney whinge his way through the game was a pleasure. Just surprised we didn't get another view of that killer elbow of his that only refs can't see.
    ​
    I'm surprised we didn't see it again as well, he should have planted it on Luiz.
    I suppose you lot are chuffed that Luiz seems to have a similarly invisible elbow.


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    codfather11     2 March 2011 2:14PM

    This assumption that big teams get all the decisions from refs is absolute crap.
    Every time a team like Man United or Liverpool get a dodgy decision go their way, ignorant fans looking for a conspiracy theory will log it and bring it up again months, sometimes years down the line. Every team gets lucky calls going their way, but fans only remember the ones in favour of the big teams and forget all the calls that go the other way. For example, the ABUs won't forget the Rooney elbow for years, whilst they've almost certainly already forgotten the shocker that allowed Birmingham to equalise against United earlier this year.
    It's just a case of selective memory to fit silly conspiracy theories.


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    Ruprict     2 March 2011 2:16PM

    The fact that Rooney should have received a ban is entirely irrelevant when assessing the decisions made last night . Wayne Rooney was not sent off against Wigan because Clattenburg didn't see the incident properly . Martin Atkinson was standing 6 yards away from Luiz when he challenged Rooney . Even Arsene Wenger would have seen that . Anyhow the challenge on Hernandez was worthy of a red card . Do you think that any other manager in the PL would have resisted having a bit of a moan about the major decisions that for a 3rd year in a row all went Chelsea's way?


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    thead     2 March 2011 2:16PM

    A couple of minutes before Vidic was sent off he was lucky to escape his second yellow. If Manchester United had brought him off as Chelsea did when they spotted that Luiz was lucky to still be on the pitch, they may have one of their first choice defenders for Sunday.
 
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    Raycun     2 March 2011 1:38PM

    I don't think referees (in general or Atkinson in particular) are biased against United. I think most United fans posting on here would agree.
    Refs are human, they make mistakes. Big teams tend to get more decisions than smaller teams (but not all the time, because often refs will feel they need to make it clear they're not biased, which exerts psychological pressure the other way), and home teams more than away teams (but not all the time, because...)
    It does get a little wearing when every decision that goes against United gets thrown down the memory hole after a couple of days, so that next time United get a decision in their favour the outrage machine can crank up again.


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    suedonym     2 March 2011 1:41PM

    Tom I think you need to realise that when Ferguson uses 'strong' in this context he clearly means 'obsequious to my wishes'. On this criteria Atkinson clearly demonstrated his weakness last night. Sending a United player off and awarding a slightly dubious penalty (of the type United get 8 times out of 10 at OT).
    The gall of the man.




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    rusticred     2 March 2011 1:45PM

    So Atkinson got one big decision wrong last night and made another questionable call. But that's not enough to justify the accusations from many fans in the chatrooms that he's somehow biased towards Chelsea.
    ​
    Presumably he didn't see Terry handle tha ball, he didn't see Ruiz elbow and body check Chicarito, nor the foul on Rooney,he didn't see Ivanovic foul Nani,
    No in the games that matter Untied get one refereeing decision for them and the whole media world goes apoplectic, while a catalogue of errors by the officials in a high profile game is cast as really nothing. Yeah I know where you are coming from.
    One game is not so bad but two consecutive games against the same team should bear some scrutiny.



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    FORZA77     2 March 2011 1:47PM

    all mind games from SAF for the upcoming games, starting at anfield
    you really think after the rooney incident an intelligent bloke, which he is, beleives what he said last night? pressure and scruitiny is now on the ref in the MU LFC game, and all man u games on the run in
    i am not a man u fan



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    Cbass     2 March 2011 1:48PM

    The most annoying thing about this is not 3 days ago, Fergie defended a plainly wrong Mark Clattenberg by saying "the referee has made his decision and you have to respect that".
    3 days later, 3 bloomin days, he has the cheek, gall, front, hypocrisy to state the exact opposite, directly questioning not only the decision (which was 50/50 but according the rules correct), but the entire standing and basis of employment of a referee.


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    itrubsthelotion     2 March 2011 1:48PM

    I don't think Atkinson is biased against United either, but then neither does Fergie. Fergie's complaint was that Atkinson is weak; a homer, if you like. There's every evidence to suggest he's right.


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    Eccentrix     2 March 2011 1:49PM

    Facts, statistical evidence and logical explanations for events.
    Who do you think you are? Jonathan Wilson?
    Tell us about how this result points to United crumbling at the tail-end of a difficult season, how their aging squad is showing signs of slowing down, how Rooney is over-rated and how Chelsea showed their resurgence means that United need to watch their backs between now and the end of the season.
    Facts...sheesh!!!


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    BarbedWireKisses     2 March 2011 1:49PM

    alfieR
    Either way, he reffed poorly yesterday.
    ​
    No he didn't. He got a few marginal things right and a few marginal things wrong as all refs do. He didn't make an howlers, (and we all know that it is possible to get away with a challenge like Luiz did, or even an elbow, from time to time.)


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    BarbedWireKisses     2 March 2011 1:53PM

    itrubsthelotion
    I don't think Atkinson is biased against United either, but then neither does Fergie. Fergie's complaint was that Atkinson is weak; a homer, if you like. There's every evidence to suggest he's right.
    ​
    To be fair, when it comes to spotted a 'homer' you'd have to take the word of anyone associated with Old Trafford. They see them practically every other week at home.


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    gabrielcasey     2 March 2011 1:53PM

    @rusticred
    One game is not so bad but two consecutive games against the same team should bear some scrutiny.
    ​
    ...and how should we apply this 'scrutiny' that you are talking about? Watch the matches another few times to double-check that the cameras didn't pick up Ancelotti handing Atkinson a big brown envelope? A search of Atkinson's bedroom for Chelsea paraphernalia perhaps? Put Atkinson on the rack until he confesses?
    Referees have bad games sometimes. There is no conspiracy and this stuff tends to balance out over the course of a season, as Mr. Lutz points out.


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    plectrum     2 March 2011 1:53PM

    I'm a Chelsea fan, so clearly biased. The debate over the ref is a smokescreen - Man U got beat by the better team on the night. Anyone who suggests they weren't thoroughly outplayed in the second half (after shading the first) needs their head examined. The ref had very little to do with that, and you can forensically examine anything to death and prove whatever conspiracy theories may be dear to your heart (for example, Chelsea haven't been able to buy a penalty of late).


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    ChampionshipGlory16     2 March 2011 1:55PM

    yes the facts do back it up. oh, wait a minute, did graham poll back the ridiculous penalty decision in the daily mail? oh, that's alright then. is he the prat who booked a player three times?


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    rusticred     2 March 2011 1:55PM

    @TomLutz
    Ignoring penalty appeals and blatant fouls by one side, while acquiescing the same to the other, is not the same as adding two minutes of extra time, both teams have equal chances, in one while one team is penalised in the other.


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    radionine     2 March 2011 1:55PM

    One year it's Simon Beck aiding Chelsea. Now Atkinson.
    Face it, too many Cup competitions/games end up being decided on blundering refs instead of the skill of the players.


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    SanMiguel     2 March 2011 1:56PM

    Assessments of referees seem more focussed and a more common consensus can be built up when its two "big" teams involved. The issues surorunding whether Luiz should have been sent off and whether it should have been a penalty against Smalling seem to mirror (as best a live sporting event can in practice) the shout for a penalty against John Terry in the first half and the late sending off of Vidic. That all of these decisions went in favour of the home team suggests that advantage has far greater relevance when you cancel out the "big" team factor.
    Basically the identification of some referees as a "homers" seems to have been forgotten recently. While they no doubt have an unenviable task with trial by TV, the lack of respect, consistency and accountability between, for and given by the referees cannot improve when such blatant prejudice is on view for all to see. At a time when Graham Poll can write a critique of a former colleagues performance in a national newspaper but the same referee is not available to offer explanation for decisions made the situation seems as far from being resolved as it ever was.
    Perhaps this is the difficulty: sharpened egos (the referees) being left very little power in the face of arrogant, impatient prima donnas (the players) and a self perpetuating media are left to conclude their only instrument of control is that most blunt object of any arbitrator - the power to say "no". No to public explanation, no to accusations of poor decision making, no to challenges for independent analysis.


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    SevenEleven     2 March 2011 1:56PM

    Does anyone know why he disallowed the early Chelsea goal? I couldn't see anything wrong with it....


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    FlyingBadger     2 March 2011 1:57PM

    Graham Poll described it in the Daily Mail as "soft, but just about the correct call."
    ​
    So that makes it ok then? Since when did running "into Chris Smalling's leg, rather than the defender moving to foul him" constitute a penalty? By that reckoning anyone could run into a defender and fall over in the box to win a penalty.
    United weren't strong enough in the second half, invited pressure and ended up losing. Chelsea played better in the second half and won, so that's the end of it, but suggesting that actually was a penalty is pathetic.


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    MaurizioGaudino     2 March 2011 1:57PM

    Great article Tom, you are starting to sneakily become one of my favourite writers - not afraid to put your views forward. Though I can't bring myself to admit Atkinson got it right in the derby, even though all evidence points towards it being the correct call.
    I hope Ferguson is held accountable for questioning the referee yet again, otherwise Utd have got away with way too much this week for my liking...


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    wilforeilly1984     2 March 2011 1:57PM

    I like this article A LOT.
    I know I should be able to ignore it after all this time, but goodness me, Fergie, just shut up. Wasn't there a stage where United went literally years without a penalty being given against them at OT? Then when one was, Keane/Stam/Beckham etc. all went apoplectic at Andy D'Urso.
    I mean seriously, United fans, do you GENUINELY think you are hard done by on the refereeing front or do you just see Fergie say it and blindly follow?


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    spiritulized     2 March 2011 1:59PM

    he was rubbish the whole game. i havent seen a game so poorly managed by a referee since the barca chelsea game.
    I can some people saying 'short memory but rooney got away with it', we all know he shouldnt have, and Luiz shouldnt have got a way with this either, and Ivanovic should have been carded for tackles in the first half,
    it was a shocking game the ref. I'll be surprised if he's doing any premire league games over the coming weeks.
    to plectrum, your wrong. Man u were far superior in the first half, and we didnt come out of the blocks i the second half and we didnt show enough fight early on, but its hard to play well when you get clattered and nothing happens, then we make a small tackle and it gets penalised. watch the game again son


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    wilforeilly1984     2 March 2011 1:59PM

    p.s. if you think you are, have a look at the Carling Cup final last year and find a reason for me why Vidic wasn't sent off.


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    gixxerman006     2 March 2011 1:59PM

    You missed out (funnily enough) the biggest game-changing fact of them all, 5 minutes in John Terry clearly leaned into the ball in the box and blocked it with his left arm.
    It was as clear-cut a deliberate hand-ball as any seen this year.....but naturally being John Terry the ref was suddenly struck blind and chose not to see it.
    But of course Smalling's far lesser 'crime' screamed 'penalty' - just as the game drew to a close - pretty much guaranteeing the Chelsea win.
    (of and there's the not soo small matter of Luiz and Ivanovic cynically on to kick lumps out of Nani et al until they got their 1 yellow collected & then were replaced)
    All water under the bridge now (te'huh) and thems the breaks but Chelsea were lucky to get away with that last night, they won't in other games.
    Still, it is nice that whatever realistic outcome happens Chelsea are not going to retain a thing......and playing as they do they do not deserve it, so at least some sort of justice will be done.


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    BarbedWireKisses     2 March 2011 2:00PM

    rusticred, radionine
    The best team won, get over it.
    I'd understand your whinging if Utd didn't have so many big decisions go in their favour, FFS. Do you forget that Ronaldo played for you, or that Rooney plays for you now!!!!!!!!




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    plectrum     2 March 2011 2:03PM

    spiritulized - I disagree with you as vehemently as you disagree with me, father.



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    Hibernica     2 March 2011 2:05PM

    So, essentally Luiz should have received a second yellow card for fouling a player who wouldn't have been playing if the ref at Wigan had done his job properly.
    United's luck evens out over the two games then.


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    MuchPreferWinter     2 March 2011 2:05PM

    Cbass
    '3 days later, 3 bloomin days, he has the cheek, gall, front, hypocrisy to state the exact opposite, directly questioning not only the decision (which was 50/50 but according the rules correct), but the entire standing and basis of employment of a referee'
    Yeah he can do what he wants tho - he is one of the most successful people in the entire history of sport. We are pseudonyms on a message board. Besides it's great entertainment. He provides the 'other' for all the opposing fans who will actually miss him dearly when he is gone. They will never have such a fabulous human dartboard to spray their venom at again in all probability - managerial wise anyway. And to be fair I doubt in the cold light of day he will deny there can be a 'win some lose some' element to the game but Chelsea have been one of United's biggest rivals over the last decade and you have to admit the decisions keep going for them - this is not being ironed out over time. And don't mention Terry's slip - that was his own fault.


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    liverpoollad     2 March 2011 2:06PM

    Excellent piece, Tom.
    Facts, facts, facts. The only way to put bullies like Ferguson, Mourinho etc in their place.
    ANYWAY - the referee's decision is final. Absolutely final. Some go your way, some go against you.
    And to remove excuses. Utd were simply not good enough, and far too temperamental to get a result yesterday. Not that Chelsea were perfect, just good enough to pull through.
    Strange that the openness of this season is down to inconsistency, despite the huge gulf between the top 5 and everyone else




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    BarbedWireKisses     2 March 2011 2:08PM

    spiritulized
    I recall a Man U goalie clearly dropping a shot over the line at OT against Spurs in the last minute. Was a goal given? That is a worse piece of refereeing than anything I saw yesterday.
    The best team won and seeing that tw*t Rooney whinge his way through the game was a pleasure. Just surprised we didn't get another view of that killer elbow of his that only refs can't see.


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    ICharlie     2 March 2011 2:08PM

    Fergie didn't say he was biased, I think the inference is that he's a homer. Which your (piecemeal) facts would support.


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    FlyingBadger     2 March 2011 2:09PM

    @BarbedWireKisses
    I for one am not interested in the past or any other game. Rooney should have got a ban for the elbow last weekend, but he didn't. I couldn't give a shit. The fact is Chelsea players were allowed to kick the crap out of Nani, Rooney and Chicharito, in particular and got away with it.
    Somebody pointed out above that Chelsea were better in the second half, yes, I'd agree but United were far superior in the first and Chelsea came out in the second to get aggressive and bully United players. Ok, that's a tactical decision and lots of teams do it and the other team has to stand up to it. However, when an incompetent referee allows the aggressive players - Ivanovic, Luiz and Terry - to get away with consistently fouling opposition players and not receiving any punishment, then that affects the game overall, not just in those moments. If these 3 had been booked earlier then United, in my opinion, would have won, because they would have had to stop fouling and that is what is annoying. Giggs got booked for one foul.


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    JDKoopa     2 March 2011 2:11PM

    After the game last night I was furious, we'd been robbed, dodgy ref etc etc.
    With the benefit of sobriety and a good nights sleep I don't think Atkinson was biased or particulally incompetant, there's no point in looking at the pen in super slow mo using multiple angles because that isn't the view the ref has to make his decision.
    The game's gone and we lost, Fergie is moaning about the ref partly in frustration but partly to amplify the sense of injustice in the squad which will hopefully result in a win at Anfield.
    If they can play like they did in the first half for 90 mins they should be fine.


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    rusticred     2 March 2011 2:11PM

    I'd understand your whinging if Utd didn't have so many big decisions go in their favour, FFS. Do you forget that Ronaldo played for you, or that Rooney plays for you now!!!!!!!!
    ​
    The result is not the issue the issue is about referring in that sense the result is immaterial so why gloat? Further the myths relating to refereeing decisions for Utd is a myth, neatly displayed by the authors conclusions about the refereeing.
    Also the old chestnut about Ronaldo and Rooney is just another ABU sentiment. If Vidic had done what Ruiz did he would have been off a lot earlier. Obviously the Chelsea staff made the same observation & brought Ruiz off.


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    FeelingGroovy     2 March 2011 2:12PM

    Blatant penalty. At first look it seems harsh but on replay you can Smalling re-planted his leg a few inches to the left as Zhirkov went past. Right call.



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    cavelier5     2 March 2011 2:12PM

    I hate Fergie as much as the next man, but every manager currently in employment does the same thing. Complain to high heaven about decisions that went against your team while ignoring the ones that went in your favour. Arsene Wenger is a master. And Fergie is an absolute gent compared to Jose Mourinho.


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    FlyingBadger     2 March 2011 2:13PM

    @BarbedWireKisses
    The best team won and seeing that tw*t Rooney whinge his way through the game was a pleasure. Just surprised we didn't get another view of that killer elbow of his that only refs can't see.
    ​
    I'm surprised we didn't see it again as well, he should have planted it on Luiz.
    I suppose you lot are chuffed that Luiz seems to have a similarly invisible elbow.


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    codfather11     2 March 2011 2:14PM

    This assumption that big teams get all the decisions from refs is absolute crap.
    Every time a team like Man United or Liverpool get a dodgy decision go their way, ignorant fans looking for a conspiracy theory will log it and bring it up again months, sometimes years down the line. Every team gets lucky calls going their way, but fans only remember the ones in favour of the big teams and forget all the calls that go the other way. For example, the ABUs won’t forget the Rooney elbow for years, whilst they’ve almost certainly already forgotten the shocker that allowed Birmingham to equalise against United earlier this year.
    It’s just a case of selective memory to fit silly conspiracy theories.


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    Ruprict     2 March 2011 2:16PM

    The fact that Rooney should have received a ban is entirely irrelevant when assessing the decisions made last night . Wayne Rooney was not sent off against Wigan because Clattenburg didn't see the incident properly . Martin Atkinson was standing 6 yards away from Luiz when he challenged Rooney . Even Arsene Wenger would have seen that . Anyhow the challenge on Hernandez was worthy of a red card . Do you think that any other manager in the PL would have resisted having a bit of a moan about the major decisions that for a 3rd year in a row all went Chelsea's way?


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    thead     2 March 2011 2:16PM

    A couple of minutes before Vidic was sent off he was lucky to escape his second yellow. If Manchester United had brought him off as Chelsea did when they spotted that Luiz was lucky to still be on the pitch, they may have one of their first choice defenders for Sunday.
 
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    Raycun 2 March 2011 1:38PM

    I don't think referees (in general or Atkinson in particular) are biased against United. I think most United fans posting on here would agree.
    Refs are human, they make mistakes. Big teams tend to get more decisions than smaller teams (but not all the time, because often refs will feel they need to make it clear they're not biased, which exerts psychological pressure the other way), and home teams more than away teams (but not all the time, because...)
    It does get a little wearing when every decision that goes against United gets thrown down the memory hole after a couple of days, so that next time United get a decision in their favour the outrage machine can crank up again.


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    suedonym 2 March 2011 1:41PM

    Tom I think you need to realise that when Ferguson uses 'strong' in this context he clearly means 'obsequious to my wishes'. On this criteria Atkinson clearly demonstrated his weakness last night. Sending a United player off and awarding a slightly dubious penalty (of the type United get 8 times out of 10 at OT).
    The gall of the man.




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    rusticred 2 March 2011 1:45PM

    So Atkinson got one big decision wrong last night and made another questionable call. But that's not enough to justify the accusations from many fans in the chatrooms that he's somehow biased towards Chelsea.
    ​
    Presumably he didn't see Terry handle tha ball, he didn't see Ruiz elbow and body check Chicarito, nor the foul on Rooney,he didn't see Ivanovic foul Nani,
    No in the games that matter Untied get one refereeing decision for them and the whole media world goes apoplectic, while a catalogue of errors by the officials in a high profile game is cast as really nothing. Yeah I know where you are coming from.
    One game is not so bad but two consecutive games against the same team should bear some scrutiny.



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    FORZA77 2 March 2011 1:47PM

    all mind games from SAF for the upcoming games, starting at anfield
    you really think after the rooney incident an intelligent bloke, which he is, beleives what he said last night? pressure and scruitiny is now on the ref in the MU LFC game, and all man u games on the run in
    i am not a man u fan



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    Cbass 2 March 2011 1:48PM

    The most annoying thing about this is not 3 days ago, Fergie defended a plainly wrong Mark Clattenberg by saying "the referee has made his decision and you have to respect that".
    3 days later, 3 bloomin days, he has the cheek, gall, front, hypocrisy to state the exact opposite, directly questioning not only the decision (which was 50/50 but according the rules correct), but the entire standing and basis of employment of a referee.


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    itrubsthelotion 2 March 2011 1:48PM

    I don't think Atkinson is biased against United either, but then neither does Fergie. Fergie's complaint was that Atkinson is weak; a homer, if you like. There's every evidence to suggest he's right.


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    Eccentrix 2 March 2011 1:49PM

    Facts, statistical evidence and logical explanations for events.
    Who do you think you are? Jonathan Wilson?
    Tell us about how this result points to United crumbling at the tail-end of a difficult season, how their aging squad is showing signs of slowing down, how Rooney is over-rated and how Chelsea showed their resurgence means that United need to watch their backs between now and the end of the season.
    Facts...sheesh!!!


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    BarbedWireKisses 2 March 2011 1:49PM

    alfieR
    Either way, he reffed poorly yesterday.
    ​
    No he didn't. He got a few marginal things right and a few marginal things wrong as all refs do. He didn't make an howlers, (and we all know that it is possible to get away with a challenge like Luiz did, or even an elbow, from time to time.)


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    BarbedWireKisses 2 March 2011 1:53PM

    itrubsthelotion
    I don't think Atkinson is biased against United either, but then neither does Fergie. Fergie's complaint was that Atkinson is weak; a homer, if you like. There's every evidence to suggest he's right.
    ​
    To be fair, when it comes to spotted a 'homer' you'd have to take the word of anyone associated with Old Trafford. They see them practically every other week at home.


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    gabrielcasey 2 March 2011 1:53PM

    @rusticred
    One game is not so bad but two consecutive games against the same team should bear some scrutiny.
    ​
    ...and how should we apply this 'scrutiny' that you are talking about? Watch the matches another few times to double-check that the cameras didn't pick up Ancelotti handing Atkinson a big brown envelope? A search of Atkinson's bedroom for Chelsea paraphernalia perhaps? Put Atkinson on the rack until he confesses?
    Referees have bad games sometimes. There is no conspiracy and this stuff tends to balance out over the course of a season, as Mr. Lutz points out.


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    plectrum 2 March 2011 1:53PM

    I'm a Chelsea fan, so clearly biased. The debate over the ref is a smokescreen - Man U got beat by the better team on the night. Anyone who suggests they weren't thoroughly outplayed in the second half (after shading the first) needs their head examined. The ref had very little to do with that, and you can forensically examine anything to death and prove whatever conspiracy theories may be dear to your heart (for example, Chelsea haven't been able to buy a penalty of late).


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    ChampionshipGlory16 2 March 2011 1:55PM

    yes the facts do back it up. oh, wait a minute, did graham poll back the ridiculous penalty decision in the daily mail? oh, that's alright then. is he the prat who booked a player three times?


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    rusticred 2 March 2011 1:55PM

    @TomLutz
    Ignoring penalty appeals and blatant fouls by one side, while acquiescing the same to the other, is not the same as adding two minutes of extra time, both teams have equal chances, in one while one team is penalised in the other.


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    radionine 2 March 2011 1:55PM

    One year it's Simon Beck aiding Chelsea. Now Atkinson.
    Face it, too many Cup competitions/games end up being decided on blundering refs instead of the skill of the players.


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    SanMiguel 2 March 2011 1:56PM

    Assessments of referees seem more focussed and a more common consensus can be built up when its two "big" teams involved. The issues surorunding whether Luiz should have been sent off and whether it should have been a penalty against Smalling seem to mirror (as best a live sporting event can in practice) the shout for a penalty against John Terry in the first half and the late sending off of Vidic. That all of these decisions went in favour of the home team suggests that advantage has far greater relevance when you cancel out the "big" team factor.
    Basically the identification of some referees as a "homers" seems to have been forgotten recently. While they no doubt have an unenviable task with trial by TV, the lack of respect, consistency and accountability between, for and given by the referees cannot improve when such blatant prejudice is on view for all to see. At a time when Graham Poll can write a critique of a former colleagues performance in a national newspaper but the same referee is not available to offer explanation for decisions made the situation seems as far from being resolved as it ever was.
    Perhaps this is the difficulty: sharpened egos (the referees) being left very little power in the face of arrogant, impatient prima donnas (the players) and a self perpetuating media are left to conclude their only instrument of control is that most blunt object of any arbitrator - the power to say "no". No to public explanation, no to accusations of poor decision making, no to challenges for independent analysis.


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    SevenEleven 2 March 2011 1:56PM

    Does anyone know why he disallowed the early Chelsea goal? I couldn't see anything wrong with it....


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    FlyingBadger 2 March 2011 1:57PM

    Graham Poll described it in the Daily Mail as "soft, but just about the correct call."
    ​
    So that makes it ok then? Since when did running "into Chris Smalling's leg, rather than the defender moving to foul him" constitute a penalty? By that reckoning anyone could run into a defender and fall over in the box to win a penalty.
    United weren't strong enough in the second half, invited pressure and ended up losing. Chelsea played better in the second half and won, so that's the end of it, but suggesting that actually was a penalty is pathetic.


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    MaurizioGaudino 2 March 2011 1:57PM

    Great article Tom, you are starting to sneakily become one of my favourite writers - not afraid to put your views forward. Though I can't bring myself to admit Atkinson got it right in the derby, even though all evidence points towards it being the correct call.
    I hope Ferguson is held accountable for questioning the referee yet again, otherwise Utd have got away with way too much this week for my liking...


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    wilforeilly1984 2 March 2011 1:57PM

    I like this article A LOT.
    I know I should be able to ignore it after all this time, but goodness me, Fergie, just shut up. Wasn't there a stage where United went literally years without a penalty being given against them at OT? Then when one was, Keane/Stam/Beckham etc. all went apoplectic at Andy D'Urso.
    I mean seriously, United fans, do you GENUINELY think you are hard done by on the refereeing front or do you just see Fergie say it and blindly follow?


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    spiritulized 2 March 2011 1:59PM

    he was rubbish the whole game. i havent seen a game so poorly managed by a referee since the barca chelsea game.
    I can some people saying 'short memory but rooney got away with it', we all know he shouldnt have, and Luiz shouldnt have got a way with this either, and Ivanovic should have been carded for tackles in the first half,
    it was a shocking game the ref. I'll be surprised if he's doing any premire league games over the coming weeks.
    to plectrum, your wrong. Man u were far superior in the first half, and we didnt come out of the blocks i the second half and we didnt show enough fight early on, but its hard to play well when you get clattered and nothing happens, then we make a small tackle and it gets penalised. watch the game again son


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    wilforeilly1984 2 March 2011 1:59PM

    p.s. if you think you are, have a look at the Carling Cup final last year and find a reason for me why Vidic wasn't sent off.


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    gixxerman006 2 March 2011 1:59PM

    You missed out (funnily enough) the biggest game-changing fact of them all, 5 minutes in John Terry clearly leaned into the ball in the box and blocked it with his left arm.
    It was as clear-cut a deliberate hand-ball as any seen this year.....but naturally being John Terry the ref was suddenly struck blind and chose not to see it.
    But of course Smalling's far lesser 'crime' screamed 'penalty' - just as the game drew to a close - pretty much guaranteeing the Chelsea win.
    (of and there's the not soo small matter of Luiz and Ivanovic cynically on to kick lumps out of Nani et al until they got their 1 yellow collected & then were replaced)
    All water under the bridge now (te'huh) and thems the breaks but Chelsea were lucky to get away with that last night, they won't in other games.
    Still, it is nice that whatever realistic outcome happens Chelsea are not going to retain a thing......and playing as they do they do not deserve it, so at least some sort of justice will be done.


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    BarbedWireKisses 2 March 2011 2:00PM

    rusticred, radionine
    The best team won, get over it.
    I'd understand your whinging if Utd didn't have so many big decisions go in their favour, FFS. Do you forget that Ronaldo played for you, or that Rooney plays for you now!!!!!!!!




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    plectrum 2 March 2011 2:03PM

    spiritulized - I disagree with you as vehemently as you disagree with me, father.



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    Hibernica 2 March 2011 2:05PM

    So, essentally Luiz should have received a second yellow card for fouling a player who wouldn't have been playing if the ref at Wigan had done his job properly.
    United's luck evens out over the two games then.


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    MuchPreferWinter 2 March 2011 2:05PM

    Cbass
    '3 days later, 3 bloomin days, he has the cheek, gall, front, hypocrisy to state the exact opposite, directly questioning not only the decision (which was 50/50 but according the rules correct), but the entire standing and basis of employment of a referee'
    Yeah he can do what he wants tho - he is one of the most successful people in the entire history of sport. We are pseudonyms on a message board. Besides it's great entertainment. He provides the 'other' for all the opposing fans who will actually miss him dearly when he is gone. They will never have such a fabulous human dartboard to spray their venom at again in all probability - managerial wise anyway. And to be fair I doubt in the cold light of day he will deny there can be a 'win some lose some' element to the game but Chelsea have been one of United's biggest rivals over the last decade and you have to admit the decisions keep going for them - this is not being ironed out over time. And don't mention Terry's slip - that was his own fault.


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    liverpoollad 2 March 2011 2:06PM

    Excellent piece, Tom.
    Facts, facts, facts. The only way to put bullies like Ferguson, Mourinho etc in their place.
    ANYWAY - the referee's decision is final. Absolutely final. Some go your way, some go against you.
    And to remove excuses. Utd were simply not good enough, and far too temperamental to get a result yesterday. Not that Chelsea were perfect, just good enough to pull through.
    Strange that the openness of this season is down to inconsistency, despite the huge gulf between the top 5 and everyone else




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    BarbedWireKisses 2 March 2011 2:08PM

    spiritulized
    I recall a Man U goalie clearly dropping a shot over the line at OT against Spurs in the last minute. Was a goal given? That is a worse piece of refereeing than anything I saw yesterday.
    The best team won and seeing that tw*t Rooney whinge his way through the game was a pleasure. Just surprised we didn't get another view of that killer elbow of his that only refs can't see.


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    ICharlie 2 March 2011 2:08PM

    Fergie didn't say he was biased, I think the inference is that he's a homer. Which your (piecemeal) facts would support.


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    FlyingBadger 2 March 2011 2:09PM

    @BarbedWireKisses
    I for one am not interested in the past or any other game. Rooney should have got a ban for the elbow last weekend, but he didn't. I couldn't give a shit. The fact is Chelsea players were allowed to kick the crap out of Nani, Rooney and Chicharito, in particular and got away with it.
    Somebody pointed out above that Chelsea were better in the second half, yes, I'd agree but United were far superior in the first and Chelsea came out in the second to get aggressive and bully United players. Ok, that's a tactical decision and lots of teams do it and the other team has to stand up to it. However, when an incompetent referee allows the aggressive players - Ivanovic, Luiz and Terry - to get away with consistently fouling opposition players and not receiving any punishment, then that affects the game overall, not just in those moments. If these 3 had been booked earlier then United, in my opinion, would have won, because they would have had to stop fouling and that is what is annoying. Giggs got booked for one foul.


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    JDKoopa 2 March 2011 2:11PM

    After the game last night I was furious, we'd been robbed, dodgy ref etc etc.
    With the benefit of sobriety and a good nights sleep I don't think Atkinson was biased or particulally incompetant, there's no point in looking at the pen in super slow mo using multiple angles because that isn't the view the ref has to make his decision.
    The game's gone and we lost, Fergie is moaning about the ref partly in frustration but partly to amplify the sense of injustice in the squad which will hopefully result in a win at Anfield.
    If they can play like they did in the first half for 90 mins they should be fine.


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    rusticred 2 March 2011 2:11PM

    I'd understand your whinging if Utd didn't have so many big decisions go in their favour, FFS. Do you forget that Ronaldo played for you, or that Rooney plays for you now!!!!!!!!
    ​
    The result is not the issue the issue is about referring in that sense the result is immaterial so why gloat? Further the myths relating to refereeing decisions for Utd is a myth, neatly displayed by the authors conclusions about the refereeing.
    Also the old chestnut about Ronaldo and Rooney is just another ABU sentiment. If Vidic had done what Ruiz did he would have been off a lot earlier. Obviously the Chelsea staff made the same observation & brought Ruiz off.


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    FeelingGroovy 2 March 2011 2:12PM

    Blatant penalty. At first look it seems harsh but on replay you can Smalling re-planted his leg a few inches to the left as Zhirkov went past. Right call.



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    cavelier5 2 March 2011 2:12PM

    I hate Fergie as much as the next man, but every manager currently in employment does the same thing. Complain to high heaven about decisions that went against your team while ignoring the ones that went in your favour. Arsene Wenger is a master. And Fergie is an absolute gent compared to Jose Mourinho.


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    FlyingBadger 2 March 2011 2:13PM

    @BarbedWireKisses
    The best team won and seeing that tw*t Rooney whinge his way through the game was a pleasure. Just surprised we didn't get another view of that killer elbow of his that only refs can't see.
    ​
    I'm surprised we didn't see it again as well, he should have planted it on Luiz.
    I suppose you lot are chuffed that Luiz seems to have a similarly invisible elbow.


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    codfather11 2 March 2011 2:14PM

    This assumption that big teams get all the decisions from refs is absolute crap.
    Every time a team like Man United or Liverpool get a dodgy decision go their way, ignorant fans looking for a conspiracy theory will log it and bring it up again months, sometimes years down the line. Every team gets lucky calls going their way, but fans only remember the ones in favour of the big teams and forget all the calls that go the other way. For example, the ABUs won’t forget the Rooney elbow for years, whilst they’ve almost certainly already forgotten the shocker that allowed Birmingham to equalise against United earlier this year.
    It’s just a case of selective memory to fit silly conspiracy theories.


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    Ruprict 2 March 2011 2:16PM

    The fact that Rooney should have received a ban is entirely irrelevant when assessing the decisions made last night . Wayne Rooney was not sent off against Wigan because Clattenburg didn't see the incident properly . Martin Atkinson was standing 6 yards away from Luiz when he challenged Rooney . Even Arsene Wenger would have seen that . Anyhow the challenge on Hernandez was worthy of a red card . Do you think that any other manager in the PL would have resisted having a bit of a moan about the major decisions that for a 3rd year in a row all went Chelsea's way?


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    thead 2 March 2011 2:16PM

    A couple of minutes before Vidic was sent off he was lucky to escape his second yellow. If Manchester United had brought him off as Chelsea did when they spotted that Luiz was lucky to still be on the pitch, they may have one of their first choice defenders for Sunday.
 
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    Raycun 2 March 2011 1:38PM

    I don't think referees (in general or Atkinson in particular) are biased against United. I think most United fans posting on here would agree.
    Refs are human, they make mistakes. Big teams tend to get more decisions than smaller teams (but not all the time, because often refs will feel they need to make it clear they're not biased, which exerts psychological pressure the other way), and home teams more than away teams (but not all the time, because...)
    It does get a little wearing when every decision that goes against United gets thrown down the memory hole after a couple of days, so that next time United get a decision in their favour the outrage machine can crank up again.


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    suedonym 2 March 2011 1:41PM

    Tom I think you need to realise that when Ferguson uses 'strong' in this context he clearly means 'obsequious to my wishes'. On this criteria Atkinson clearly demonstrated his weakness last night. Sending a United player off and awarding a slightly dubious penalty (of the type United get 8 times out of 10 at OT).
    The gall of the man.




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    rusticred 2 March 2011 1:45PM

    So Atkinson got one big decision wrong last night and made another questionable call. But that's not enough to justify the accusations from many fans in the chatrooms that he's somehow biased towards Chelsea.
    ​
    Presumably he didn't see Terry handle tha ball, he didn't see Ruiz elbow and body check Chicarito, nor the foul on Rooney,he didn't see Ivanovic foul Nani,
    No in the games that matter Untied get one refereeing decision for them and the whole media world goes apoplectic, while a catalogue of errors by the officials in a high profile game is cast as really nothing. Yeah I know where you are coming from.
    One game is not so bad but two consecutive games against the same team should bear some scrutiny.



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    FORZA77 2 March 2011 1:47PM

    all mind games from SAF for the upcoming games, starting at anfield
    you really think after the rooney incident an intelligent bloke, which he is, beleives what he said last night? pressure and scruitiny is now on the ref in the MU LFC game, and all man u games on the run in
    i am not a man u fan



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    Cbass 2 March 2011 1:48PM

    The most annoying thing about this is not 3 days ago, Fergie defended a plainly wrong Mark Clattenberg by saying "the referee has made his decision and you have to respect that".
    3 days later, 3 bloomin days, he has the cheek, gall, front, hypocrisy to state the exact opposite, directly questioning not only the decision (which was 50/50 but according the rules correct), but the entire standing and basis of employment of a referee.


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    itrubsthelotion 2 March 2011 1:48PM

    I don't think Atkinson is biased against United either, but then neither does Fergie. Fergie's complaint was that Atkinson is weak; a homer, if you like. There's every evidence to suggest he's right.


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    Eccentrix 2 March 2011 1:49PM

    Facts, statistical evidence and logical explanations for events.
    Who do you think you are? Jonathan Wilson?
    Tell us about how this result points to United crumbling at the tail-end of a difficult season, how their aging squad is showing signs of slowing down, how Rooney is over-rated and how Chelsea showed their resurgence means that United need to watch their backs between now and the end of the season.
    Facts...sheesh!!!


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    BarbedWireKisses 2 March 2011 1:49PM

    alfieR
    Either way, he reffed poorly yesterday.
    ​
    No he didn't. He got a few marginal things right and a few marginal things wrong as all refs do. He didn't make an howlers, (and we all know that it is possible to get away with a challenge like Luiz did, or even an elbow, from time to time.)


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    BarbedWireKisses 2 March 2011 1:53PM

    itrubsthelotion
    I don't think Atkinson is biased against United either, but then neither does Fergie. Fergie's complaint was that Atkinson is weak; a homer, if you like. There's every evidence to suggest he's right.
    ​
    To be fair, when it comes to spotted a 'homer' you'd have to take the word of anyone associated with Old Trafford. They see them practically every other week at home.


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    gabrielcasey 2 March 2011 1:53PM

    @rusticred
    One game is not so bad but two consecutive games against the same team should bear some scrutiny.
    ​
    ...and how should we apply this 'scrutiny' that you are talking about? Watch the matches another few times to double-check that the cameras didn't pick up Ancelotti handing Atkinson a big brown envelope? A search of Atkinson's bedroom for Chelsea paraphernalia perhaps? Put Atkinson on the rack until he confesses?
    Referees have bad games sometimes. There is no conspiracy and this stuff tends to balance out over the course of a season, as Mr. Lutz points out.


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    plectrum 2 March 2011 1:53PM

    I'm a Chelsea fan, so clearly biased. The debate over the ref is a smokescreen - Man U got beat by the better team on the night. Anyone who suggests they weren't thoroughly outplayed in the second half (after shading the first) needs their head examined. The ref had very little to do with that, and you can forensically examine anything to death and prove whatever conspiracy theories may be dear to your heart (for example, Chelsea haven't been able to buy a penalty of late).


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    ChampionshipGlory16 2 March 2011 1:55PM

    yes the facts do back it up. oh, wait a minute, did graham poll back the ridiculous penalty decision in the daily mail? oh, that's alright then. is he the prat who booked a player three times?


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    rusticred 2 March 2011 1:55PM

    @TomLutz
    Ignoring penalty appeals and blatant fouls by one side, while acquiescing the same to the other, is not the same as adding two minutes of extra time, both teams have equal chances, in one while one team is penalised in the other.


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    radionine 2 March 2011 1:55PM

    One year it's Simon Beck aiding Chelsea. Now Atkinson.
    Face it, too many Cup competitions/games end up being decided on blundering refs instead of the skill of the players.


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    SanMiguel 2 March 2011 1:56PM

    Assessments of referees seem more focussed and a more common consensus can be built up when its two "big" teams involved. The issues surorunding whether Luiz should have been sent off and whether it should have been a penalty against Smalling seem to mirror (as best a live sporting event can in practice) the shout for a penalty against John Terry in the first half and the late sending off of Vidic. That all of these decisions went in favour of the home team suggests that advantage has far greater relevance when you cancel out the "big" team factor.
    Basically the identification of some referees as a "homers" seems to have been forgotten recently. While they no doubt have an unenviable task with trial by TV, the lack of respect, consistency and accountability between, for and given by the referees cannot improve when such blatant prejudice is on view for all to see. At a time when Graham Poll can write a critique of a former colleagues performance in a national newspaper but the same referee is not available to offer explanation for decisions made the situation seems as far from being resolved as it ever was.
    Perhaps this is the difficulty: sharpened egos (the referees) being left very little power in the face of arrogant, impatient prima donnas (the players) and a self perpetuating media are left to conclude their only instrument of control is that most blunt object of any arbitrator - the power to say "no". No to public explanation, no to accusations of poor decision making, no to challenges for independent analysis.


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    SevenEleven 2 March 2011 1:56PM

    Does anyone know why he disallowed the early Chelsea goal? I couldn't see anything wrong with it....


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    FlyingBadger 2 March 2011 1:57PM

    Graham Poll described it in the Daily Mail as "soft, but just about the correct call."
    ​
    So that makes it ok then? Since when did running "into Chris Smalling's leg, rather than the defender moving to foul him" constitute a penalty? By that reckoning anyone could run into a defender and fall over in the box to win a penalty.
    United weren't strong enough in the second half, invited pressure and ended up losing. Chelsea played better in the second half and won, so that's the end of it, but suggesting that actually was a penalty is pathetic.


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    MaurizioGaudino 2 March 2011 1:57PM

    Great article Tom, you are starting to sneakily become one of my favourite writers - not afraid to put your views forward. Though I can't bring myself to admit Atkinson got it right in the derby, even though all evidence points towards it being the correct call.
    I hope Ferguson is held accountable for questioning the referee yet again, otherwise Utd have got away with way too much this week for my liking...


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    wilforeilly1984 2 March 2011 1:57PM

    I like this article A LOT.
    I know I should be able to ignore it after all this time, but goodness me, Fergie, just shut up. Wasn't there a stage where United went literally years without a penalty being given against them at OT? Then when one was, Keane/Stam/Beckham etc. all went apoplectic at Andy D'Urso.
    I mean seriously, United fans, do you GENUINELY think you are hard done by on the refereeing front or do you just see Fergie say it and blindly follow?


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    spiritulized 2 March 2011 1:59PM

    he was rubbish the whole game. i havent seen a game so poorly managed by a referee since the barca chelsea game.
    I can some people saying 'short memory but rooney got away with it', we all know he shouldnt have, and Luiz shouldnt have got a way with this either, and Ivanovic should have been carded for tackles in the first half,
    it was a shocking game the ref. I'll be surprised if he's doing any premire league games over the coming weeks.
    to plectrum, your wrong. Man u were far superior in the first half, and we didnt come out of the blocks i the second half and we didnt show enough fight early on, but its hard to play well when you get clattered and nothing happens, then we make a small tackle and it gets penalised. watch the game again son


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    wilforeilly1984 2 March 2011 1:59PM

    p.s. if you think you are, have a look at the Carling Cup final last year and find a reason for me why Vidic wasn't sent off.


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    gixxerman006 2 March 2011 1:59PM

    You missed out (funnily enough) the biggest game-changing fact of them all, 5 minutes in John Terry clearly leaned into the ball in the box and blocked it with his left arm.
    It was as clear-cut a deliberate hand-ball as any seen this year.....but naturally being John Terry the ref was suddenly struck blind and chose not to see it.
    But of course Smalling's far lesser 'crime' screamed 'penalty' - just as the game drew to a close - pretty much guaranteeing the Chelsea win.
    (of and there's the not soo small matter of Luiz and Ivanovic cynically on to kick lumps out of Nani et al until they got their 1 yellow collected & then were replaced)
    All water under the bridge now (te'huh) and thems the breaks but Chelsea were lucky to get away with that last night, they won't in other games.
    Still, it is nice that whatever realistic outcome happens Chelsea are not going to retain a thing......and playing as they do they do not deserve it, so at least some sort of justice will be done.


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    BarbedWireKisses 2 March 2011 2:00PM

    rusticred, radionine
    The best team won, get over it.
    I'd understand your whinging if Utd didn't have so many big decisions go in their favour, FFS. Do you forget that Ronaldo played for you, or that Rooney plays for you now!!!!!!!!




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    plectrum 2 March 2011 2:03PM

    spiritulized - I disagree with you as vehemently as you disagree with me, father.



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    Hibernica 2 March 2011 2:05PM

    So, essentally Luiz should have received a second yellow card for fouling a player who wouldn't have been playing if the ref at Wigan had done his job properly.
    United's luck evens out over the two games then.


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    MuchPreferWinter 2 March 2011 2:05PM

    Cbass
    '3 days later, 3 bloomin days, he has the cheek, gall, front, hypocrisy to state the exact opposite, directly questioning not only the decision (which was 50/50 but according the rules correct), but the entire standing and basis of employment of a referee'
    Yeah he can do what he wants tho - he is one of the most successful people in the entire history of sport. We are pseudonyms on a message board. Besides it's great entertainment. He provides the 'other' for all the opposing fans who will actually miss him dearly when he is gone. They will never have such a fabulous human dartboard to spray their venom at again in all probability - managerial wise anyway. And to be fair I doubt in the cold light of day he will deny there can be a 'win some lose some' element to the game but Chelsea have been one of United's biggest rivals over the last decade and you have to admit the decisions keep going for them - this is not being ironed out over time. And don't mention Terry's slip - that was his own fault.


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    liverpoollad 2 March 2011 2:06PM

    Excellent piece, Tom.
    Facts, facts, facts. The only way to put bullies like Ferguson, Mourinho etc in their place.
    ANYWAY - the referee's decision is final. Absolutely final. Some go your way, some go against you.
    And to remove excuses. Utd were simply not good enough, and far too temperamental to get a result yesterday. Not that Chelsea were perfect, just good enough to pull through.
    Strange that the openness of this season is down to inconsistency, despite the huge gulf between the top 5 and everyone else




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    BarbedWireKisses 2 March 2011 2:08PM

    spiritulized
    I recall a Man U goalie clearly dropping a shot over the line at OT against Spurs in the last minute. Was a goal given? That is a worse piece of refereeing than anything I saw yesterday.
    The best team won and seeing that tw*t Rooney whinge his way through the game was a pleasure. Just surprised we didn't get another view of that killer elbow of his that only refs can't see.


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    ICharlie 2 March 2011 2:08PM

    Fergie didn't say he was biased, I think the inference is that he's a homer. Which your (piecemeal) facts would support.


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    FlyingBadger 2 March 2011 2:09PM

    @BarbedWireKisses
    I for one am not interested in the past or any other game. Rooney should have got a ban for the elbow last weekend, but he didn't. I couldn't give a shit. The fact is Chelsea players were allowed to kick the crap out of Nani, Rooney and Chicharito, in particular and got away with it.
    Somebody pointed out above that Chelsea were better in the second half, yes, I'd agree but United were far superior in the first and Chelsea came out in the second to get aggressive and bully United players. Ok, that's a tactical decision and lots of teams do it and the other team has to stand up to it. However, when an incompetent referee allows the aggressive players - Ivanovic, Luiz and Terry - to get away with consistently fouling opposition players and not receiving any punishment, then that affects the game overall, not just in those moments. If these 3 had been booked earlier then United, in my opinion, would have won, because they would have had to stop fouling and that is what is annoying. Giggs got booked for one foul.


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    JDKoopa 2 March 2011 2:11PM

    After the game last night I was furious, we'd been robbed, dodgy ref etc etc.
    With the benefit of sobriety and a good nights sleep I don't think Atkinson was biased or particulally incompetant, there's no point in looking at the pen in super slow mo using multiple angles because that isn't the view the ref has to make his decision.
    The game's gone and we lost, Fergie is moaning about the ref partly in frustration but partly to amplify the sense of injustice in the squad which will hopefully result in a win at Anfield.
    If they can play like they did in the first half for 90 mins they should be fine.


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    rusticred 2 March 2011 2:11PM

    I'd understand your whinging if Utd didn't have so many big decisions go in their favour, FFS. Do you forget that Ronaldo played for you, or that Rooney plays for you now!!!!!!!!
    ​
    The result is not the issue the issue is about referring in that sense the result is immaterial so why gloat? Further the myths relating to refereeing decisions for Utd is a myth, neatly displayed by the authors conclusions about the refereeing.
    Also the old chestnut about Ronaldo and Rooney is just another ABU sentiment. If Vidic had done what Ruiz did he would have been off a lot earlier. Obviously the Chelsea staff made the same observation & brought Ruiz off.


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    FeelingGroovy 2 March 2011 2:12PM

    Blatant penalty. At first look it seems harsh but on replay you can Smalling re-planted his leg a few inches to the left as Zhirkov went past. Right call.



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    cavelier5 2 March 2011 2:12PM

    I hate Fergie as much as the next man, but every manager currently in employment does the same thing. Complain to high heaven about decisions that went against your team while ignoring the ones that went in your favour. Arsene Wenger is a master. And Fergie is an absolute gent compared to Jose Mourinho.


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    FlyingBadger 2 March 2011 2:13PM

    @BarbedWireKisses
    The best team won and seeing that tw*t Rooney whinge his way through the game was a pleasure. Just surprised we didn't get another view of that killer elbow of his that only refs can't see.
    ​
    I'm surprised we didn't see it again as well, he should have planted it on Luiz.
    I suppose you lot are chuffed that Luiz seems to have a similarly invisible elbow.


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    codfather11 2 March 2011 2:14PM

    This assumption that big teams get all the decisions from refs is absolute crap.
    Every time a team like Man United or Liverpool get a dodgy decision go their way, ignorant fans looking for a conspiracy theory will log it and bring it up again months, sometimes years down the line. Every team gets lucky calls going their way, but fans only remember the ones in favour of the big teams and forget all the calls that go the other way. For example, the ABUs won’t forget the Rooney elbow for years, whilst they’ve almost certainly already forgotten the shocker that allowed Birmingham to equalise against United earlier this year.
    It’s just a case of selective memory to fit silly conspiracy theories.


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    Ruprict 2 March 2011 2:16PM

    The fact that Rooney should have received a ban is entirely irrelevant when assessing the decisions made last night . Wayne Rooney was not sent off against Wigan because Clattenburg didn't see the incident properly . Martin Atkinson was standing 6 yards away from Luiz when he challenged Rooney . Even Arsene Wenger would have seen that . Anyhow the challenge on Hernandez was worthy of a red card . Do you think that any other manager in the PL would have resisted having a bit of a moan about the major decisions that for a 3rd year in a row all went Chelsea's way?


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    thead 2 March 2011 2:16PM

    A couple of minutes before Vidic was sent off he was lucky to escape his second yellow. If Manchester United had brought him off as Chelsea did when they spotted that Luiz was lucky to still be on the pitch, they may have one of their first choice defenders for Sunday.
 
Bayern chief bullish on chances


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Updated Feb 24, 2011 10:16 AM ET
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge feels Bayern Munich are on the verge of knocking out Champions League holders Inter Milan after a 1-0 first-leg win.
Mario Gomez's last-minute goal at the San Siro on Wednesday night has put the Bavarians in the driving seat of the last-16 tie and Rummenigge says they should now be able to finish the job off in the Allianz Arena on March 15.


"If we don't make the mistake of feeling too secure, then we have a good chance of reaching the quarter-finals," said the Bayern chairman on his club's website.
Rummenigge witnessed an entertaining game in Milan which he said "could have ended 4-4", but he felt the game was decided by his side's superior desire for revenge after losing to Inter in the final last year.
"I said before the game that this was going to be an even match, and that was reflected in the game," he said.
"We were able to move up a gear in the second half whereas Inter had problems.
"It was a different Bayern to the final last year. We were more motivated to reach our goals today and we did not have only this one chance, but also hit the post twice.
"We were simply better in the attack than back then."
Bayern captain Philipp Lahm said Gomez's goal could give a boost to the team for the rest of the season, and he has already started thinking about winning the competition.
"Certainly it is better to go into the second leg like this," he said.
"After today's game, we can look more positively to the future.
"Our aim is to go through to the next round of the Champions League and we also want to win the cup."
 
Scottish Premier League Roundup, Feb. 27


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Updated Feb 27, 2011 1:58 PM ET
Rangers trimmed the gap to Scottish Premier League leader Celtic to five points thanks to a 4-0 thrashing of St. Johnstone after its Glasgow rival's surprise 2-0 defeat at Motherwell.
Croatia striker Nikica Jelavic scored Rangers' first and last goals at Ibrox, with Kyle Lafferty and Sasa Papac also finding the net for the defending champions.
Celtic's 17-match unbeaten run, which stretched back to Nov. 10, ended at Fir Park, with John Sutton scoring in the second minute and again in the 49th from the penalty spot.
Rangers has two games in hand over its fierce rival.
 
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