Just trying to work out what you could mean by the first bit! Well if the officials are going to claim that Vertonghen was in the Sunderland half it shows they are absolutely awful (I mean woeful) at thier job. But if that's what they think then the free kick should indeed be taken in the Sunderland half. But 25 yards into it? I mean maybe he just wanted the kick taken quickly and didn't see the harm of taking it 25 yards further back than it should be... And if the officials did see that Vertonghen was in his own half but momentarily forgot the rules then obviously the free kick should be in the Spurs half. And then a photo of a free kick being taken in the offenders' defensive half can whisk round the world and let the officials never forget what a terrible cock-up they made. So where should it have been taken for the least amount of ****-storm? Well just inside the Spurs half shows lack of knowledge of the rules, just inside the Sunderland half shows astonishing levels of incompetence and 25 yards inside the Sunderland?! Well I didn't think that a third option could actually be worse than the previous two!
And is there NO coverage of this in the press anywhere? Candidate for worst decision ever seen in a top-flight game which was reached by deliberation between two officials and second-top story on the BBC website is how Harry Redknapp is not going to be sacked?! I can understand referees and linesmen making mistakes but this is something else. This is the grossest incompetence at the highest level and which cost a goal. And it was discussed by the officials before they gave it! It's as much a scandal as Pardew headbutting a player Or Suarez having a nibble IMO.
I don't mind all that much that the refs got the decision wrong. They are human after all. What I do mind however is that there is no mechanism for correcting such a ridiculous decision, when it 100% undeniably would have resulted in a goal if called correctly. Come the end of the season Spurs may miss out on the Champions League, or even the Europa, due to a one goal difference. At the other end of the table Sunderland may avoid relegation by that one goal better goal difference, and condemn a club who deserved to stay in the league to the Championship. I understand that correcting these decisions after the game has finished would not be as straightforward for many cases, which might not be so black and white. However at least give the teams the opportunity to challenge the decision during the game via video review, like we have been calling for for years and years, and which virtually every other sport has adopted, with positive results, in the 21st century.
I can't honestly see that our goal differencial will worry anyone.....unless we turn in a couple of 6-0 wins.
To cut to the chase, these are two reasonably well paid, so called professionals. They conspired to perpetrate one of the biggest balls ups you're ever liable to see in a first class football match. Sorry, but IMO, they should both resign. Failing that, sacked. If you're that incompetent at your chosen profession, it's time for you to go.
I agree I wasn't very clear. I was responding to people being surprised that the free kick was in the Sunderland half. To me the shock would have been if it had been in the Spurs half, as that would have meant that they definitely don't know the rules. I wasn't suggesting for a second that there was any doubt that it was wrong. As for being 25 yards inside, offside free kicks are often a way from where they should be. Of all the injustices, that is the least of my concerns.
Its concerning that officials are getting even easy, black and white decisions like that wrong. Its not like there is any room for interpretation in the rules there, no intent or anything like that to weigh. I'm just thankful that it didn't cost us the game against Sunderland, but the trouble is that decisions cost other teams (and indeed us) so many times.
I really hate Foy, this is the second time from memory now where he's ****ed us with a goal. Luckily the recent time we already had the lead and saw the game out but against Stoke at The Britannia a couple seasons back he ruled out Ade's goal when clearly on side and cost us the game. The FA constantly talks about the respect for referees campaign and all that but where's the respect for us? Foy and his linesman will likely ref again in the Prem the following weekend without any form of punishment for making what is one of the worst refereeing decisions in years. Our goal difference is bad enough as it is, last thing we need is being ****ed over on what could be an important goal come the end of the season. Our goal should be awarded and the score line made 3-1. The FA rescind red cards if there's been a mistake, the same should be done for goals.
That wasn't all that he got wrong. Probably the worst performance I've ever seen from an official, to be honest. Just dire. Crouch handballed it for their opener, Shawcross handled on the line and also pulled back Gallas when he had an open goal, Walters handled in the box, Adebayor had a goal chalked off for offside when he was about 3 yards on, sent Kaboul off for two nothing offences... The list seemed to go on for ever. How he's been allowed near any of our games since is beyond me. please log in to view this image Nearly as bad as the balls up in this game.
To add insult to injury, Vertonghen has lost the other goal as well http://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnatio...nd-jan-vertonghen-goals-offside-own-goal-zero
Chris Foy and Adam Nunn have been dropped to the Championship for this weekend's games, following their disallowed goal debacle. The organisation that runs these things has claimed that this has nothing to do with their enormous **** up, however. Course not. Perish the thought. Where's our apology?
No matter how often this happens, it sends out an appalling message: a referee who isn't good enough for the Premier League due to their **** ups is still good enough for the Championship.
