Not to mention the holding,shirt-pulling and clear obstruction which goes on at every single corner or set-piece into the box.
Is there nobody on here who could write a template and put it on here so we could print it off and sign it and send it to the FA, that way at least we know they know how fans feel. I would imagine every site would join in.
At the start of the recent World Cup Refs were giving Pens for exactly this and I thought if this continues and filters down to our league Refs then the pushing, holding etc would stop overnight, how wrong was I. Never understood why such a foul is readily given outside the box so why are Refs not manning up and giving it where it matters, cheating, weak arseholes springs to mind.
Agreed completely mate. Even standard “yellow” fouls. Syptandard when the referee thinks it. I watched Bruno for the mags the other night, when a Southampton player grabbed him he swung his arms and hit him in the head twice. Not accidentally. Blatantly had lost his head. Ref saw it and just told him to calm down. Booked the Southampton player (rightly) and gave Newcastle a free kick. Even the commentators ignored it. He’d already got away with another one previously as well. I’ve seen players VAR red carded for similar. Seems the rules are adhered to when it suits
We often say it at the match. It’s easy when it’s outside the box or in a defensive third. Defenders have the massive advantage of thus. A striker touches the back of a defender it’s a free kick. Against Boro first half Ba’ath was nudged and knocked over a Boro player. Free kick. Second half Ballard was drwgged to the ground to stop him heading in a simple chance, ignored. Never makes sense to me. I used to tell the kids I refereed that shirt pulling and pushing in the box would be given. I’d tell them before a game. Guess what, it never happened
You could have two players commit the carbon copy exact same foul in front of the same referee and he would give different punishment for each player. Dependant on that players reputation and the club they play for mainly. Prime example was Cattermole for us, we rarely got things go our way and he was know as a dirty player so would get a red for the exact same foul that Gerrard would be unlucky to even get a yellow for. He got away with a lot cause of his reputation imo then you add to that the favouritism teams like Liverpool get from refs. They will never stop it like and I'm sure the premier league wouldn't want to they quite happy for your 'top six' and their players to get as much leeway as possible.
Mowbray didn't seem particularly excited about this game although I think he's probably just keeping pressure off the lads. After playing in the Boro match, in a big modern stadium, with 40,000 supporters, this'll feel like going to a lower league club ... I don't think anyone would see a win as a giantkilling tbh. We'll have better support and there's always the chance they'll see another wonder goal ... ... Ha’way the Lads, let's have a good display for MOTD.
