Brendan charged

[Spionkop69]

So at the World Cup in Brazil, if we get a South American ref against Uruguay, the FA will say nothing...

 

[gkmacca]

So at the World Cup in Brazil, if we get a South American ref against Uruguay, the FA will say nothing...

Maybe that's why they're moving the World Cup to Christmas.

 

[Modo]

They'd be broke by the end of the month.

good

 

[gkmacca]

Moyesy must be happy Riley's now the refs' boss:

The Everton manager David Moyes has questioned the appointment of Mike Riley as the replacement referee for his side's FA Cup semi-final againstManchester United on Sunday. Riley was selected to fill in for the unwell Steve Bennett, yet Moyes called for an FA investigation into whether the Leeds-born official has any allegiances toward United.

"A member of the press asked me if Mike Riley was a Manchester United supporter and I think that's something you would need to bring up with the FA," Moyes said. "If you're saying that he is, you'd hope the FA would look at it. It is something that one or two managers would have something to say about."

Moyes has an uneasy history with Riley after the referee controversially awarded a penalty during Everton's final match of the 2002-03 season, also against Manchester United, which cost the club a place in the Uefa Cup. A spokesman for the FA said the choice of official would stand. "All our referees are fair, unbiased and objective," he said. "Mike Riley is one of our top officials and we are 100% confident he will do a good job on Sunday."

 

[LeTallecWiz]

The FA are either cowards (as let's be honest, Rodgers called them out and called mason biased and 8k is a nothing fine) or they basically agreeing with him to an extent.

 

[gkmacca]

He should have said it beforehand. That's what he has to learn. Make the local point before, put the pressure on. Then if the ref is shite he can just complain about the decisions and the earlier point can remain unspoken.

 

[Hyena]

The Greater Manchester area is huge.
Lee Mason is from Bolton and only a fool would honestly think he is biased towards Manchester City.

For Rodgers to pick on that as a key point just makes him look stupid.

 

[gkmacca]

The dubiousness of the proximity issue is right - such refs are more likely to be less sympathetic than more, if they're swayed at all, which I doubt. But the FA Cup Final decision created the precedent, so it's not a surprise it's since been made a debating point. Either refs are deemed impartial or they're not. If you drop them from one match because of where they come from, don't act outraged when the same issue is brought up at another time.

 

[Hyena]

Fair point.