Roberto Martinez charged by the FA

FFS, I'm sick of people being punished just for talking!

If it's one person abusing the other, then fair enough, but should people be charged just for exercising their rights to freedom of speech?

This is ridiculous.

Some people may disagree strongly with his comments, but that's no reason to punish people for them.

People should be allowed to speak their minds!

This is what he said -

"I have come to United three times before today and for whatever reason we don't seem to be measured in the same manner as the team at home.

"Today the penalty is as bad a decision as you are going to see in the Premier League.

"In many ways, you feel as though you are fighting against a mountain.

"There were tackles flying around that if they had been the other way round there would have been a couple of red cards."

Martinez described Welbeck's challenge as "completely reckless", adding: "It is a red card, for a Wigan player, Manchester United, everyone."


Charged for this? **** off FA!

 

Absolute disgrace, I watched the game he's referring to and feel he had every right to feel aggrieved.
Martinez is one of the few people involved in football that I feel has any integrity, him being charged sums it up nicely, not all clubs are treated the same!

 

But isn't this the only function of the FA? To charge people? I wasn't aware that there was any other actual point to the FA .....

But on a serious rather than cynical note, I agree with Tash. Martinez is expressing an opinion, he is not naming anyone or pointing any fingers, just merely giving his take on the situation. And I happen to think he may have a point.

 

Because, apparently, SAF and United can do no wrong. I for one will be glad to see the back of that wrinkled old scrote

 

Not many that wont be.

 

I think most of us feel the same way about Martinez, he seems to be a quiet likeable guy who just says what he thinks without going over the top. If he can't say what he thinks it doesn't bode well for football in general.

I thought everybody was entitled to an opinion, which at the end of the day is all he was expressing.

 

He said it because it can subconsciously influence the decisions made by the officials. It's classic psychology to mention something you don't want in order to get it.
It's a bit like telling someone exactly what you think of them, but making it out to be a joke, so they cannot take offence at you, even though you were being offensive.
Maybe not the oldest trick in the book, but not far off.

 

But didn't he do it well.

 

The old dog has had plenty of practice.

 

Well, the rule is that it is improper to challenge the integrity of the referee. Martinez quotes, while they have a mild tone, pretty clearly suggest that the referees favour Man United. If he is sayig they do that delibarately, then that is saying the referees are dishonest.

Now, you might think that you should be allowed to call a referee dishonest, but the rule is that you're not. You might think that SAF should have been charged, but that doesn't really have anything to do with what Martinez said or whether Martinezshould be charged - - the fact that somebody just overtook you going way faster than you is no defence to your speeding ticket.

Martinez may be able to argue that he thinks that referees are unconciously influenced by the atmosphere, etc, at Old Trafford. If so, that is not a slur on their integrity. Otherwise, it doesn't really matter how nicely you say that the referee is in SAF's pocket - - it is an allegation of lack of integrity no matter how pretty the phrasing

 

I like Martinez. An honest chap.

 

Yes. That is probably the problem.

 

I believe Sir AF is the most punished manager in history.

I may of just made that up but being a United fan and having some utterly insane bans handed to Fergie I wouldnt be surprised. Infact when I am back from asda I might check that one out.

 

.

 

He may be the most punished manager, I have no idea, but he still gets away with more than any other. He's just a total ****er. Shame he's one of the greatest ever really.

OP, this is why the RESPECT campaign will never go anywhere, it doesn't work both ways and it really needs to.