He maybe be naughty but he's 100% right. I wish football followed the same principles as rugby, where players have utmost respect for the ref. All this Rooneyeque f'ing and blinding is frankly ridiculous and should stop!!
Whilst I agree with what he says, it's rather hypocritical, isn't it? Perhaps referees would get more respect from players if their managers lead by example?
When did I say that he had? There are many forms of disrespect towards match officials. My profile name, for example!
The trouble with wenger naking valud points about poor treatment to refs by players was shown when he ranted on after the fulham match. It was a second booking as Djouro (for excuse spelling) fouled Zamora yet he claimed that it was a foul by zamora, that fulham tried to get arsenal players sent off and implied that there was some kind of conspiracy against his team. Those comments undermine his good comments.
There is a significant difference between rugby referees and footbal referees. Rugby referees are instructed to apply the letter of the law and be fair. In an interview I heard on Talk sport, I think it was Alan Wiley said that referees apply common sense and try to enhance the entertainment value of the game as their primary goal. Unfortunately, a lot of fans don't want the strict FIFA rules to be applied, they want to see aggressive tackling and players risking serious injury, it is part of the gladatorial spectacle they enjoy. So in order to maintain this "entertainment" they basically make up the rules as they go along. It makes a nonsense of the whole game. It also means that when our players get to the very top level internationally, they can't play strictly to the FIFA rules and get slaughtered. Most of them would be unable to play the game anywhere other than Britain.
If refs made it clear that they would talk to the 'upset' person and the captain ONLY - and issue cards to additional players surrounding him - then this ridiculous gang mentality would stop within a few matches.
