https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45758867 Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez has been fined £60,000 after accepting a charge for commenting about the referee prior to his team's Premier League game against Crystal Palace last month. Benitez was responding to Palace forward Wilfried Zaha, who had said he was not being protected by referees. Benitez said referee Andre Marriner would have Zaha's remarks in his mind. The Football Association constituted that as improper conduct and/or bringing the game into disrepute Yet Zaha gets nothing for his comments which could be classed as the same bringing the game into disrepute - saying that the refs are not protecting him and that the refs are not doing their jobs properly FA double standards again
I thought he was out of order to be honest so no real problem. Its the consistency that niggles me. Plenty of managers start talking about individual referees, obviously to gain an advantage or apply pressure and its wrong. However you have to punish it every time.
What the actual ****? Why can he not point out the obvious? If the opposition player publically says something about being fouled which is then published in the national press, unless the ref lives in woodland completely cut off from society, he has the potential to be impacted and consciously or sub-consciously pressured. I think managers should be fined for the usual cliche bullshit "never saw the incident", "I think the ref has a hard job" bla bla bla. It brings nothing to anybodies enjoyment of the game or enhancement or understanding of football. I skip the press conferences on MOTD and Sky, it is a waste of my life to sit and watch aimless platitudes.
Can’t remember the exact details, but didn’t a French club recently get fined £20000 because their supporters made monkey noises to black players, yet Rafa get £60000 for his comments regarding Zaha, makes you think.
I hop i hope you’re not trying to suggest that FIFA/UEFA/PL think that protecting referees is more important than addressing racism?????
No l am not suggesting anything other than the inconsistency of the two. Addressing racism is far more important hence £20k and stating the bloody obvious £60k. How much was that big girls blouse Zaha fined for questioning the cababilites of the referees, £ big fat zero. Just saying x
Shocking that it shows Anthony Taylor not even watching the ball for the pen Needless to say MotD commentator not saying much about it either
I don't think his comments on what Zaha said were the problem. It was more the backhanded compliment to the referee (basically saying he has a poor record with reds), advising the FA what they should do and discussing how it may impact the game. Mixed on this one personally, something I don't really like is putting pressure on refs, players diving and/or asking for yellows. However they haven't stamped it out and are now reaping what they sowed in the early days when you had people like Jose and SAF basically gaining advantage by putting the refs under the pump. Its a hard thing to reverse. It is even harder when you are not consistent in your approach to it. The FA couldn't organise a hunger strike at a fashion show. Until they get the keys for Richard Scudamores desk and take back their balls from the little box which resides there, they will remain a farce.
