http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31875834 please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Course not bud!
Again, I dont buy the whole campaign bullshit. But this whole spotlight on our players surrounding the ref when it literally happens EVERY week in the PL. In atleast one game, every week, there is an instance where players surround the referee..... I ****ing hate it, but its been an epidemic in the PL for a few years now. All of a sudden because Chelsea did it, its become a cardinal sin? Where the **** have all these idiots been, talking their **** for the last 5 years?
I remember an incident at Old Trafford a few years back when United players actually jostled the ref from the penalty box to the touchline when he gave a penalty ( I think it may have been for Middlesborough). No action taken. It's been going on for years Maybe if refs were a bit stronger back then, we wouldn't have the problem now.
That was 3 cases of it I found in a 10 second google image search....from just ONE team, City. I bet if I spent half an hour looking I could find atleast another 20-30 incidents of teams surrounding refs. United (who pioneered this tactic), Arsenal, Liverpool etc all do it, all the time.
I genuinely don't think I've ever seen anything quite on the level of the Ibrahimovic red card for a tackle nowhere near worthy of a red. Not saying other clubs don't try and intimidate refs but there is a reason Chelsea were so criticised for this.
If you could tell 100% in real time that that wasnt a red card tackle then good for you. I for one didnt have a clue until I saw the replay. Surrounding the ref is wrong, its still ultimately the refs decision though as to whether he produces a card. A strong ref should just tell the players to **** off,
Not from the TV angle, no, but of those nine players around him I reckon at least a few were well aware. The roll from Oscar was a bit of a giveaway too. If you're genuinely hurt you don't do that
All good points. But the overiding and most vital point, is that the ref should have just told the players to **** off. In this instance, I dont even think it influenced the ref's decision, he pulled the card out pretty quick. I guess only the ref will know that though. I am just sick of people moaning about Chelsea players doing something that a lot of teams do every week. In this instance it wasn't a red, but the ref gave it. Unless the ref is under some kind of hypnosis, then the fault lies squarely with him for sending ibra off.
Oscars reaction was pathetic but nothing out of the ordinary happened. It should be stamped down on somehow but this is something that happens all the time, and in my opinion it's the ref's job to ignore that sort of ****. Also, Souness was pathetic with his criticism of our players' sportsmanship considering his history as a player.
Literally a few hours after he says his players wont surround the ref: please log in to view this image ****ing pillock!