At the end of Manchester City's 0-2 victory at Arsenal assistant referee John Brooks advises City's players to acknowledge the travelling fans who paid £62 for their ticket. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21006202# Just heard on Sky that this official has now been stood down from a game tonight. Anyone else think that is completely over the top? What's wrong with what he said? The game was over for Pete's sake!
I had a suspicion that someone would take offence to what was a private conversation with some players. We thought it was amusing and showed the human side of a ref, but of course we forgot they are supposed to be machines.
Yeah I did think it was a bit odd for him to say that. However, the powers that be, whether its Arsenal or the FA, are taking this way too seriously. I heard people had their "£62 and we're still here" banners confiscated by police, and one person was threatened with arrest when he challenged them. What law is that breaking exactly? Presumably Arsenal asked them to do it but why should the cops act as Arsenal's private security force?
The banner probably came under a general rule against provocation. The comment was humorous and meant to be private. I suspect the FA claims it shows so kind of bias...this action a mistake because it will now be talked about again, whereas to most it was a light-hearted comment that had already been forgotten.
I agree, but am just saying that is the reason often cited when police stop an action that is not illegal in itself. I suspect they thought that some Arsenal fans would be angered by it, though I suspect all fans believe prices are now too high.
FA are a joke, I've never known such a corrupt, badly run private sector organisation. People complain about Fifa and UEFA but FA are hardly much better. Although to be fair, I'd hope the Man City players would have applauded the travelling fans regardless of being advised to or not.
Glad we all agree. I think it's outrageous he has been stood down. I don't think he did anything wrong.
I'm not sure I agree to be honest, the comment struck me as an odd thing to say, although innocent enough in itself, it struck me as overstepping some kind of boundary. Obviously I don't know what is said between officials and players generally but with the governing bodies' bleating about respect between players and officials it sort of undermines their message when an official is heard engaging in 'banter' like that. I think on balance giving him enforced leave is a bit harsh, but I could understand if they felt they needed to have a quiet word with him about it. The police stuff is beyond the pale though, they're supposed to be there to protect the public, not to act as the arm of Arsenal FC or any other private body for that matter.
I just dont understand what happens in these meetings, how does this get a majority vote from anyone, hate the fa
It seems silly. He has been taken off next weekend's Prem games as well. The Times named him man of the match, I read.
He's not the only qualified referee here! I am as well. As for my view, I don't see anything wrong with it - I see it as a bit of banter between the player and the official, he wasn't being serious.
A quote from the almighty PGMO - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21026985 (not the FA's responsibility to be fair to them)
You mean it's another case of people without all the information jumping to conclusions?! So they're doing it for his own good. Well, who can argue with that?
