we lost the 1930 fa cup semi-final because the referee was related to someone on the arse board, or something like that. nothing changes.
I think this might have something to do with Robertson speaking out about Clattenburg apologising for the goal. It didn't go down well, he wasn't supposed to do it (refs aren't allowed to watch replays at half time) and he's made himself look a right tit, so to protect their man the FA have used this as an excuse. There's no way this is solely about making an example of us just because our players got a bit cross, nobody stepped over the line and if they did, they'd have been booked for it, the refs have been pretty consistent with it this season (apart from Man U, as OLM said.)
Do we know for certain that the Clitman actually told our players he had made a mistake at HT? My understanding is that match officials should not be allowed to that in case they are seen to appear to even up the situation in 2nd half. Maybe the reason he made such bias decisions against us was he was proecting his own backside.
Do you not remember before Nasrigate we had that cuptie in March 2009 when Fabregash came dancing onto the pitch phlegging at Brian Horton at the end, and that after the usual dodgy goal from William Gallas to get them back into the game. Truly nauseating and integrity-free club supported by every Barca-lite snowflake **** south of Watford. The dregs of the Home Counties who seem to have a truly massive hold on the PL/FA and the MSM.
I was pleased we crowded round the ref, like all the big teams do. It makes a change to the usual nothingness & just take it.
I think he apologised for missing it was hand ball. Not sure he said he got the decision wrong. Howard Webb insists he got the call right as it wasn't deliberate so can't be a foul. Graham Poll insists he got it wrong.
Walcott was obviously the only player who was truly out of control with his full on temper tantrum and ball throwing at the lino. If Clattenburg had made the correct decisions re the handball goal and Gibbs assault on Markovic and also sent off Walcott for dissent and provocation, I hazard a guess that the Arsenal players left on the pitch would have been right in the face of Clattenburg, with no Tuesday charge from the FA. Top club bias has never been so nakedly shown as in this decision by the FA.
We should counter claim ****enburg for dereliction of duty - failure to perform assigned duties in a satisfactory manner. Simple as.
I've always regarded Clattenburg as a top ref, in fact the ref I felt most confident with reffing our games. But after watching the replays of the Sanchez and Gibbs incidents, and seeing Walcott's temper tantrum (I wasn't able to watch the game live), my illusions have been totally shattered. We've been the victims of some incredibly incompetent reffing decisions in our Prem history, but Saturday surely takes the cake. And now with the FA's ludicrous charge, which I'm sure Clattenburg's input had a lot to do with, I will never have any faith in this refs neutrality again. Bad luck and bad reffing stole 3 points from us at West Ham. And his failure to send off Gibbs and Walcott probably cost us another 3 points. If we do go down I'll always think back on these two games. But I hope Saturdays travesty will inspire the lads to go into each game from now on with added determination to right these blatant injustices, and to play even better than they have since Silva took charge. In a perverse way Clattenburg may have helped us avoid relegation. But I'll NEVER trust the bugger again!!!!
When will we see the straw that breaks the camels back? there is so much money in the game 1 point could mean millions of lost revenue, relegation or failing to get into the even richer Champions League. A dodgy decision by the referee could send a club down. If I remember right from the name change stuff it's not allowed to sue the governing body of football. Surely someone / club will have a go one day.