It is very hard to imagine a top fifa-listed ref uttering intended insults to a player in a game that he knows is being televised and the fact that others are miked up to him etc, etc. It would be professional & personal suicide surely. Got to be the kind of misundestanding being suggested, but as Fran says time will tell. If it is a case of a misunderstanding then perhaps non-english speaking players should have to undertake an approved language test before playing in our leagues - much as foreign seafarers have to do if they wish to work on UK flag ships.
Would be interesting lessons...a variety of common swear words in all regional accents. Life enhancing
It has been reported that Ramirez claimed to have heard the word "monkey" being spoken. This player is also reported to speak very poor English. So how can he be a good judge of what was said in an apparently heavy Geordie accent. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/chelsea-staff-questioned-witnesses-over-1409690
Apparently the referees association is waiting in the wings if they feel Clattenburg is being victimised. They feel that a footballer shouldn't be believed over a referee merely because one is more highly valued (financially). A ref's life could become untenable if they could lose their job on the word of another...remembering that refs tend to make unpopular decisions. As I've said before, ref looked calm and no player looked shocked during the game (compare that to players reactions in other recent high profile cases). Think they got their heads together and convinced themselves of what they heard. Not saying they made it up, but it's a well known fact that repeating an incident in your mind changes the memory.
Yes, the mind boggles - but if this bandwagon keeps on rolling and there are accusations on a regular basis about what people are saying to each other on a football pitch then whats the answer. The media are the only ones who love this sort of thing.
Surely not Fran - they wouldnt do that would they, the 'little monkeys' ! Said very much tongue in cheek before the PC Police arrive on the scene and get hysterical.
please log in to view this image Wonder what will happen to this guy. Or is he just innocently scratching his armpits?
Anyone at the game on Sunday may be surprised to hear that Lee Mason had an excellent game yesterday under all that pressure, correctly awarding three penalties and his assistant chipped in with a correct goal line decision.
My only comment on this (apart from a harmless gag about a strikers recent form that somehow became racist) is that watching the clips, Mikel looks really calm as does the referee; not an inkling of anything bad. Now, remember the John Terry clip? Mikel turns his head when Terry uses those words and turns back with an expression suggesting minor shock or offence. If it happened, throw the book at the ref. if it didn't then it is another sad story of this wonderful game sitting in a hand cart on its way somewhere not very nice.
When Terry spoke to Ferdinand, Mikel reacted negatively to what Terry said. He turned away with thinned lips...that's when I knew Terry had said what he was accused of.
Ha ha, good job that you are here then Fran ! You dont need to know anything about football tactics here - plenty of experts on this site to keep you straight chook !
