...because we all know times are hard with money etc and yet that referee will have walked out of the stadium tonight after picking up a tremendous wage I can imagine!! Genuinely one of the most diabolical referees I've seen!! There was that one time when Steed had done well to get past Corluka, who proceeded to fall over and was awarded a freekick. Every 50:50, in fact no every single challenge was met with an infringement and a freekick was given against us. If they'd had a prolific freekick taker then we would have been in massive trouble. Its the basics. It's not like the decisions were hard to make. Simple errors constantly throughout. If I was incompetent at my job I'd be fired on the spot but these guys turn up every week to basically ruin football matches! We've seen it hundred of times in the past and still do. West Ham were disallowed a perfectly legit goal which could have won the game for them. Although I despise West Ham that could be the difference between Premiership and Championship football next season which with all the money in the game these days is HUGE. Something has to be done soon before a team does get relegated or an important fixture becomes a farce due to officials screwing up simple things....rant over.
Mr-SAFC Excellent post mate and I agree 100%. There is probably more to this theme of post that needs a (another) mention, along with shocking refereeing, there’s the equally disgraceful “professional” player that looks to get another pro booked or sent off by diving, faking injury, or just being a WUM. The FA need to take a hard look at the deterioration of The Beautiful Game, as I believe the obvious demise of quality refereeing is linked to the theatricals we see every weekend from some over-paid professionals. Fans are getting cheated on both accounts. KTF
This thread/comments are spot on. I have become increasingly dissalusioned with the attitudes, performance and behaviour of the refereeing in general and with Sunderland's matches in particular. I would not be surprised if it was either a betting scam, a form of football politics motivated issue or just someone at a high level within the games hierarchy with an anti-Sunderland grudge. The fact is some of the unbelievably bad and blatantly biased refereeing in favour of Sunderland's opposition is very worrying. I have long voiced my concerns that no matter how well or poorly Sunderland play, or how well or poorly the opposition play, the result is to a substantial degree based upon the officials and in particular the referee. Having qualified as a referee, I am amazed at the lack of unbiased decision-making. If a study was made looking at a great percentage of 50/50 judgement calls involving Sunderland, it would be clear Sunderland are awarded very few. In short the Referee penalise a Sunderland player for the most insignificant infringement, while allowing opposition players incredible leniency for the most serious and obviously severe infringements. This is more obvious where a certain high profile, perceived as fashionable club is involved. I am not paranoid but the standard of refereeing is generally so poor there has to be some action taken. The use of video replays, post match interview of referees to explain there actions. One of my theories is very simple and logical. As a ref I knew I had delivered a good performance if I left the pitch in an anonymous manner. If it was hardly noticeable I was there. Or being berated by both sides then it was clear I had possibly had a bad match but bad in equal amounts for both teams. I also admitted any errors I had made. These Premier League referees are making a 'name' for themselves in order to create a personality for celebrity status thereby lining up some form of career after refereeing. For example, Graham Poll was an appalling example he was supposedly our top ref and went to the World Cup where he went on to issue 3 yellow cards something most junior and novice refs would never do! He tried the 'matey' approach with famous players and was shocking! Now he writes a newspaper column. There are others who have a minor celebrity status but were very poor referees. Think about it and you will know who I mean. One is from the North East! Bare in mind another was suspended while an investigation into his business practices were investigated. He is still a shockingly poor referee! There is more to this issue than meets the eye. Certain clubs have a poorer deal by officials than others, and Sunderland probably the get the worst deal of all. Look at how many 50/50 calls go in favour of certain teams particularly at home matches. Except Sunderland!
The Refs have been appaling the last 2 games. How we didnt get a freekick on the edge of the box (or penalty) when henderson got his legs taken out from behind I have no idea. Gomez should have got a yellow for play acting, and off the pitch when he got the other one. Its not losing to spurs that makes me angry, as they are a top team and a top ten finish is what our aim was at the beginning of the season, but qulqity of the refs that makes my blood boil.
Well, lads, Len Ashurst is my next door neighbour (no wind up) and he is the FA's referee assesor for Sunderland home matches and I would have no doubt that he put in a bad report. I remember last year having a chat to him over the fence about a particularly bad display by Howard Webb (cant remember which day it was) and he told me he gave the FA a scathing report on him and that other assesors were less than impressed with him. I remember he was pretty puzzled that Mr. Webb got the World Cup Final. Shows how much the FA take notice of their fans wishes, or even their assesors.
yesterday we saw some despicable foul play on those delicate flowers defoe, sandro and gomes, all of whom were clearly mortally wounded and unable to play on. And the referee told all of them to get up and get on with it at which point those broken legs, ribs seemed to mend themselves. If the ref wasn't convinced by the dubious displays of thespianism, why didn't he book them for ungentlemanly conduct?
Yeah. It's always the referee to blame isn't it when Sunderland are beaten. You're becoming as bad as the Arsenal supporters.
