Good to see the FA are as fair and even as ever.
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Former referee Mike Riley insists Mark Clattenburg took the 'correct course of action' regarding Wayne Rooney's elbow on James McCarthy.
Manchester United striker Rooney caught McCarthy on the side of the head during the early stages of his team's 4-0 win at Wigan Athletic on Saturday.
Clattenburg awarded a free-kick, but opted against taking further action for an incident which Latics boss Roberto Martinez felt warranted a red card.
The Football Association has subsequently confirmed there will be no retrospective punishment for Rooney after receiving Clattenburg's report on the game.
And, despite the widespread calls for Rooney to be banned for the challenge, Riley is adamant that Clattenburg 'did nothing wrong' at the DW Stadium.
Nothing wrong
"Mark took the correct course of action with this incident," said Professional Game Match Officials general manager Riley.
"Match officials are trained to prioritise following the ball, as that is where the greater majority of incidents are going to take place.
"However, we also do a lot of work around the area of peripheral vision to be aware of anything that might potentially happen off-the-ball.
"In this incident Mark was following play but caught sight of two players coming together and he awarded a free-kick because he believed one player had impeded the other.
"We should be clear that Mark did nothing wrong in officiating this incident as he acted on what he saw on the pitch."
Manchester United striker Rooney caught McCarthy on the side of the head during the early stages of his team's 4-0 win at Wigan Athletic on Saturday.
Clattenburg awarded a free-kick, but opted against taking further action for an incident which Latics boss Roberto Martinez felt warranted a red card.
The Football Association has subsequently confirmed there will be no retrospective punishment for Rooney after receiving Clattenburg's report on the game.
And, despite the widespread calls for Rooney to be banned for the challenge, Riley is adamant that Clattenburg 'did nothing wrong' at the DW Stadium.
Nothing wrong
"Mark took the correct course of action with this incident," said Professional Game Match Officials general manager Riley.
"Match officials are trained to prioritise following the ball, as that is where the greater majority of incidents are going to take place.
"However, we also do a lot of work around the area of peripheral vision to be aware of anything that might potentially happen off-the-ball.
"In this incident Mark was following play but caught sight of two players coming together and he awarded a free-kick because he believed one player had impeded the other.
"We should be clear that Mark did nothing wrong in officiating this incident as he acted on what he saw on the pitch."
[quote author=themn link=topic=44387.msg1292719#msg1292719 date=1298917612]
Durham on Talksport is arguing that Rooney did nothing wrong.
He was just trying to get by MacCarthy.
[/quote]
Iwas listening to that. Goughie was going mad about it and Durham was being a smug cunt. Anyone who rang in who disagreed was told to behave.
Quote "since when was raising your hand a red card offence?" Are you taking the piss Durham? Oh yeah it is like listening to the opinions of a red top.
Strangely enough Ronnie "Did I tell you I'm Man U?" Irani was defending him as well this morning. I only listen so that I can gte my blood pressure raised!
Durham on Talksport is arguing that Rooney did nothing wrong.
He was just trying to get by MacCarthy.
[/quote]
Iwas listening to that. Goughie was going mad about it and Durham was being a smug cunt. Anyone who rang in who disagreed was told to behave.
Quote "since when was raising your hand a red card offence?" Are you taking the piss Durham? Oh yeah it is like listening to the opinions of a red top.
Strangely enough Ronnie "Did I tell you I'm Man U?" Irani was defending him as well this morning. I only listen so that I can gte my blood pressure raised!
[quote author=Hansern link=topic=44387.msg1292817#msg1292817 date=1298965244]
Former referee Mike Riley insists Mark Clattenburg took the 'correct course of action' regarding Wayne Rooney's elbow on James McCarthy.
Manchester United striker Rooney caught McCarthy on the side of the head during the early stages of his team's 4-0 win at Wigan Athletic on Saturday.
Clattenburg awarded a free-kick, but opted against taking further action for an incident which Latics boss Roberto Martinez felt warranted a red card.
The Football Association has subsequently confirmed there will be no retrospective punishment for Rooney after receiving Clattenburg's report on the game.
And, despite the widespread calls for Rooney to be banned for the challenge, Riley is adamant that Clattenburg 'did nothing wrong' at the DW Stadium.
Nothing wrong
"Mark took the correct course of action with this incident," said Professional Game Match Officials general manager Riley.
"Match officials are trained to prioritise following the ball, as that is where the greater majority of incidents are going to take place.
"However, we also do a lot of work around the area of peripheral vision to be aware of anything that might potentially happen off-the-ball.
"In this incident Mark was following play but caught sight of two players coming together and he awarded a free-kick because he believed one player had impeded the other.
"We should be clear that Mark did nothing wrong in officiating this incident as he acted on what he saw on the pitch."
[/quote]
if he didn't see it properly it would be documented in his post match notes that he wasn't clear what happened, just that he saw 2 players coming together. meaning the FA would be able to do something about it....but wait....they didn't! meaning that he wrote in his post match notes he saw it and therefore was happy with the punishment dished out.
travesty
Former referee Mike Riley insists Mark Clattenburg took the 'correct course of action' regarding Wayne Rooney's elbow on James McCarthy.
Manchester United striker Rooney caught McCarthy on the side of the head during the early stages of his team's 4-0 win at Wigan Athletic on Saturday.
Clattenburg awarded a free-kick, but opted against taking further action for an incident which Latics boss Roberto Martinez felt warranted a red card.
The Football Association has subsequently confirmed there will be no retrospective punishment for Rooney after receiving Clattenburg's report on the game.
And, despite the widespread calls for Rooney to be banned for the challenge, Riley is adamant that Clattenburg 'did nothing wrong' at the DW Stadium.
Nothing wrong
"Mark took the correct course of action with this incident," said Professional Game Match Officials general manager Riley.
"Match officials are trained to prioritise following the ball, as that is where the greater majority of incidents are going to take place.
"However, we also do a lot of work around the area of peripheral vision to be aware of anything that might potentially happen off-the-ball.
"In this incident Mark was following play but caught sight of two players coming together and he awarded a free-kick because he believed one player had impeded the other.
"We should be clear that Mark did nothing wrong in officiating this incident as he acted on what he saw on the pitch."
[/quote]
if he didn't see it properly it would be documented in his post match notes that he wasn't clear what happened, just that he saw 2 players coming together. meaning the FA would be able to do something about it....but wait....they didn't! meaning that he wrote in his post match notes he saw it and therefore was happy with the punishment dished out.
travesty
[quote author=Fabio link=topic=44387.msg1292828#msg1292828 date=1298968148]
if he didn't see it properly it would be documented in his post match notes that he wasn't clear what happened, just that he saw 2 players coming together. meaning the FA would be able to do something about it....but wait....they didn't! meaning that he wrote in his post match notes he saw it and therefore was happy with the punishment dished out.
travesty
[/quote]
Exactly. It's totally understandable he didn't see it properly at the time and it's not the issue here.
if he didn't see it properly it would be documented in his post match notes that he wasn't clear what happened, just that he saw 2 players coming together. meaning the FA would be able to do something about it....but wait....they didn't! meaning that he wrote in his post match notes he saw it and therefore was happy with the punishment dished out.
travesty
[/quote]
Exactly. It's totally understandable he didn't see it properly at the time and it's not the issue here.
[quote author=Fabio link=topic=44387.msg1292828#msg1292828 date=1298968148]
[quote author=Hansern link=topic=44387.msg1292817#msg1292817 date=1298965244]
Former referee Mike Riley insists Mark Clattenburg took the 'correct course of action' regarding Wayne Rooney's elbow on James McCarthy.
Manchester United striker Rooney caught McCarthy on the side of the head during the early stages of his team's 4-0 win at Wigan Athletic on Saturday.
Clattenburg awarded a free-kick, but opted against taking further action for an incident which Latics boss Roberto Martinez felt warranted a red card.
The Football Association has subsequently confirmed there will be no retrospective punishment for Rooney after receiving Clattenburg's report on the game.
And, despite the widespread calls for Rooney to be banned for the challenge, Riley is adamant that Clattenburg 'did nothing wrong' at the DW Stadium.
Nothing wrong
"Mark took the correct course of action with this incident," said Professional Game Match Officials general manager Riley.
"Match officials are trained to prioritise following the ball, as that is where the greater majority of incidents are going to take place.
"However, we also do a lot of work around the area of peripheral vision to be aware of anything that might potentially happen off-the-ball.
"In this incident Mark was following play but caught sight of two players coming together and he awarded a free-kick because he believed one player had impeded the other.
"We should be clear that Mark did nothing wrong in officiating this incident as he acted on what he saw on the pitch."
[/quote]
if he didn't see it properly it would be documented in his post match notes that he wasn't clear what happened, just that he saw 2 players coming together. meaning the FA would be able to do something about it....but wait....they didn't! meaning that he wrote in his post match notes he saw it and therefore was happy with the punishment dished out.
travesty
[/quote]
Ahem... he saw it in his 'peripheral' vision, a new variation on the law just created right there. Duh.
[quote author=Hansern link=topic=44387.msg1292817#msg1292817 date=1298965244]
Former referee Mike Riley insists Mark Clattenburg took the 'correct course of action' regarding Wayne Rooney's elbow on James McCarthy.
Manchester United striker Rooney caught McCarthy on the side of the head during the early stages of his team's 4-0 win at Wigan Athletic on Saturday.
Clattenburg awarded a free-kick, but opted against taking further action for an incident which Latics boss Roberto Martinez felt warranted a red card.
The Football Association has subsequently confirmed there will be no retrospective punishment for Rooney after receiving Clattenburg's report on the game.
And, despite the widespread calls for Rooney to be banned for the challenge, Riley is adamant that Clattenburg 'did nothing wrong' at the DW Stadium.
Nothing wrong
"Mark took the correct course of action with this incident," said Professional Game Match Officials general manager Riley.
"Match officials are trained to prioritise following the ball, as that is where the greater majority of incidents are going to take place.
"However, we also do a lot of work around the area of peripheral vision to be aware of anything that might potentially happen off-the-ball.
"In this incident Mark was following play but caught sight of two players coming together and he awarded a free-kick because he believed one player had impeded the other.
"We should be clear that Mark did nothing wrong in officiating this incident as he acted on what he saw on the pitch."
[/quote]
if he didn't see it properly it would be documented in his post match notes that he wasn't clear what happened, just that he saw 2 players coming together. meaning the FA would be able to do something about it....but wait....they didn't! meaning that he wrote in his post match notes he saw it and therefore was happy with the punishment dished out.
travesty
[/quote]
Ahem... he saw it in his 'peripheral' vision, a new variation on the law just created right there. Duh.
I expected this outcome after the game on saturday. It's still sickening though.
Clattenburg and Riley, fuck me what a couple.
Clattenburg has been immensly shite in every game I've seen him this season, and you have to wonder how poor the other refs are since he actually managed to get back into the Premier League.
The standard of the referees in the PL is poor, really poor. And it shouldn't be called one of the best leagues in the world which such dross dressed in black.
Clattenburg and Riley, fuck me what a couple.
Clattenburg has been immensly shite in every game I've seen him this season, and you have to wonder how poor the other refs are since he actually managed to get back into the Premier League.
The standard of the referees in the PL is poor, really poor. And it shouldn't be called one of the best leagues in the world which such dross dressed in black.
[quote author=Hansern link=topic=44387.msg1292847#msg1292847 date=1298969916]
I expected this outcome after the game on saturday. It's still sickening though.
Clattenburg and Riley, fuck me what a couple.
Clattenburg has been immensly shite in every game I've seen him this season, and you have to wonder how poor the other refs are since he actually managed to get back into the Premier League.
The standard of the referees in the PL is poor, really poor. And it shouldn't be called one of the best leagues in the world which such dross dressed in black.
[/quote]
Half the time it's not even that they're poor, everyone makes mistakes and in a game involving 22 players, it's difficult to see everything. There seems to be some egotistical bullshit going on where ref's like taking the higher ground rather than conferring with their assistants and then there's these stupid fucking loopholes regarding the refs report, which the FA and refs seem too eager to hide behind.
It's corrupt. It's a hard job and everyone can take that, if they have the decency to come out and hold their hands up every now and then.
I expected this outcome after the game on saturday. It's still sickening though.
Clattenburg and Riley, fuck me what a couple.
Clattenburg has been immensly shite in every game I've seen him this season, and you have to wonder how poor the other refs are since he actually managed to get back into the Premier League.
The standard of the referees in the PL is poor, really poor. And it shouldn't be called one of the best leagues in the world which such dross dressed in black.
[/quote]
Half the time it's not even that they're poor, everyone makes mistakes and in a game involving 22 players, it's difficult to see everything. There seems to be some egotistical bullshit going on where ref's like taking the higher ground rather than conferring with their assistants and then there's these stupid fucking loopholes regarding the refs report, which the FA and refs seem too eager to hide behind.
It's corrupt. It's a hard job and everyone can take that, if they have the decency to come out and hold their hands up every now and then.
[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=44387.msg1292850#msg1292850 date=1298970179]
[quote author=Hansern link=topic=44387.msg1292847#msg1292847 date=1298969916]
I expected this outcome after the game on saturday. It's still sickening though.
Clattenburg and Riley, fuck me what a couple.
Clattenburg has been immensly shite in every game I've seen him this season, and you have to wonder how poor the other refs are since he actually managed to get back into the Premier League.
The standard of the referees in the PL is poor, really poor. And it shouldn't be called one of the best leagues in the world which such dross dressed in black.
[/quote]
Half the time it's not even that they're poor, everyone makes mistakes and in a game involving 22 players, it's difficult to see everything. There seems to be some egotistical bullshit going on where ref's like taking the higher ground rather than conferring with their assistants and then there's these stupid fucking loopholes regarding the refs report, which the FA and refs seem too eager to hide behind.
It's corrupt. It's a hard job and everyone can take that, if they have the decency to come out and hold their hands up every now and then.
[/quote]
I agree mate. The thing that gets me about Clattenburg is his look at me when I make decisions and hand out cards. He loves the attention. Shouldn't be anywhere near the Premier Leauge.
[quote author=Hansern link=topic=44387.msg1292847#msg1292847 date=1298969916]
I expected this outcome after the game on saturday. It's still sickening though.
Clattenburg and Riley, fuck me what a couple.
Clattenburg has been immensly shite in every game I've seen him this season, and you have to wonder how poor the other refs are since he actually managed to get back into the Premier League.
The standard of the referees in the PL is poor, really poor. And it shouldn't be called one of the best leagues in the world which such dross dressed in black.
[/quote]
Half the time it's not even that they're poor, everyone makes mistakes and in a game involving 22 players, it's difficult to see everything. There seems to be some egotistical bullshit going on where ref's like taking the higher ground rather than conferring with their assistants and then there's these stupid fucking loopholes regarding the refs report, which the FA and refs seem too eager to hide behind.
It's corrupt. It's a hard job and everyone can take that, if they have the decency to come out and hold their hands up every now and then.
[/quote]
I agree mate. The thing that gets me about Clattenburg is his look at me when I make decisions and hand out cards. He loves the attention. Shouldn't be anywhere near the Premier Leauge.
Henry Winter: Ashley Cole and Wayne Rooney incidents a reminder of FA's weak stance on English elite
Wild West: a lawlessness is creeping through the English game as the likes of Wayne Rooney go unpunished for blatant acts of violence
Photo: REUTERS
By Henry Winter
Last Updated: 7:40AM GMT 01/03/2011
Welcome to England, land of elbows and shotguns. Welcome to Stamford Bridge tonight when Wayne Rooney’s Manchester United collide with Ashley Cole’s Chelsea to restage the Glorious 12th. The shouts will be of “duck†and “shootâ€.
The past few days of forearms and firearms have been damaging for football’s image, bringing a wearying reminder of the excesses of some players and the Football Association’s familiar failure to respond as responsible governors should.
Neros in blazers, the Wembley beaks refused to punish Rooney for his very obvious elbow on Wigan’s James McCarthy. The FA also eschewed the opportunity to become involved after Cole accidentally fired an air-rifle at a Cobham work-experience boy. Fortunately, both McCarthy and the pellet-hit intern are fine. Unfortunately, more harm was inflicted on football’s reputation.
Rooney first. The FA simpered on Monday that it could do nothing, that it had to rely on Mark Clattenburg acknowledging his mistake, that “re-refereeing†games is frowned on by Fifa.
Weak. It should have urged an arrogant referee to understand fully the dark ramifications of not owning up to his error. The FA could even have intervened on grounds of “extraordinary circumstancesâ€.
In protecting an errant official, the FA has served only to undermine the whole refereeing community. Officials appear in awe of stars like Rooney, as seen in Clattenburg’s naively matey huddle with the England attacker. Referees and the authorities now look afraid of upsetting Sir Alex Ferguson.
English football has been down this rocky road before; Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard has been treated leniently by the FA in the past, although the organisation is very quick at clamping down on players’ tweets.
One day, somebody at the FA will be a leader of substance, a Winston Churchill rather than a Captain Mainwaring, and call the stars to account. Dream on.
Sadly, the FA’s inertia could exacerbate tensions between the leading clubs. Some of United’s rivals are known to be privately aggrieved by Rooney’s let-off. “We’re Manchester United,†the visiting fans in the corner of the Shed will sing tonight, “we’ll do what we wantâ€.
Yet the FA is equally meek towards all the elite clubs.
A year ago, Ferguson railed about FA failure to take retrospective action against the Liverpool pair of Javier Mascherano and Gerrard who appeared to have struck Jermaine Beckford and Michael Brown respectively. “Maybe one day, we will get lucky,†said Ferguson. He did on Monday.
The Scot is a distinguished manager, but one can only imagine the eruption if it had been McCarthy who had elbowed Rooney.
Manchester United are a great club, who play the game the right way under Ferguson, but Rooney’s unchecked elbow should embarrass them.
More sensibly, Ferguson has called for unemployed managers to sit on an FA review panel, analysing the weekend’s main incidents.
To such a logical suggestion, the timid, blinkered FA argues that if it starts getting involved retrospectively, referees will be even less likely to take decisive action during the 90 minutes, knowing the FA can tidy things up afterwards. Nonsense.
Hypocrisy runs through the FA’s stance. It does not want to impinge on referee’s decision-making yet lobbies avidly for goal-line technology, particularly in the wake of Frank Lampard’s shot against Germany in Bloemfontein.
The FA should be ensuring justice is done, that mistakes can be rectified. Nobody is advocating that results be changed, simply that catching culprits is important whether the match is on-going or concluded. Inconsistency riddles FA thoughts.
It pours money into a glossy Respect campaign and then sits idly by as one high-profile footballer elbows a lesser one.
Those right-minded souls seeking to instil healthy sporting habits into impressionable youngsters have had their tasks further complicated by Clattenburg and the compliant officers of the FA.
“How will I explain this most recent action from their ‘role model’?†one teacher lamented on Monday. “Another accident?â€
The so-called guardians of the game have inadvertently encouraged theatrical behaviour. McCarthy should have rolled around, the FA seems to be saying, because then even Clattenburg would have realised something serious had occurred.
Discreet sighs of frustration could be heard around the FA. Good people within the organisation know that their leaders, namely chairman David Bernstein and general secretary Alex Horne, are in the public stocks, pilloried for an unwillingness to take charge of the Wild West of English football.
Horne’s decision to question Fifa’s fitness to govern is both legitimate and rather rich. English pot meets Swiss kettle.
And so to Cole, who seems to have forgotten he has left the Gunners.
Few were expecting Chelsea to discipline the former Arsenal player properly for rash use of an air-rifle. The full-back has apparently been fined, around £250,000, which will hardly drag a multi-millionaire towards the breadline. Not even the ciabatta-line.
A feeling of lawlessness creeps through the game. One of the unintentionally amusing moments in the whole Cobham-as-Bisley fallout came from a police spokesman, who also provided one of the most enlightening comments. The spokesman said officers would interview “whoever runs the training establishmentâ€. Good question. John Terry? John Wayne?
Certainly not the FA. The incident occurred on Chelsea’s private property, away from match-days, but general rules of good conduct still apply. Footballers messing around with firearms brings the game into disrepute. Simple.
As the FA is patently incapable of dealing with the dysfunctional traits of Rooney and Cole, then the Premier League academies need to work harder to develop individuals who are balanced as people as well as footballers.
The three players recently voted as the world’s top triumvirate, Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi, were all schooled at La Masia.
“The whole culture is based on work ethic and family ethic,†observed Pep Guardiola of Barcelona’s Academy, adding that “we approach the game with a high degree of humilityâ€. Messi, Iniesta and Xavi make fine role models.
English Academies need to shape players who exude self-belief not arrogance, who appreciate that one day somebody in authority will have the courage to challenge such behaviour.
Not all is lost. A straw poll of contacts quickly gleaned many names who can be lauded as exceptional role models, starting with Rooney’s team-mates Ryan Giggs and Chris Smalling. Cole’s colleague Lampard represents the game well on and off the pitch.
Other ambassadors include Scott Parker, Phil Neville, Michael Dawson, Theo Walcott, Danny Murphy, James Milner, Phil Jagielka, Stewart Downing and Matthew Upson. Among others.
So Rooney and Cole do their peers a disservice. So does Clattenburg with his whistle-blowing brethren. But few will be surprised to find the FA letting down the game again. Welcome to England.
Wild West: a lawlessness is creeping through the English game as the likes of Wayne Rooney go unpunished for blatant acts of violence
Photo: REUTERS
By Henry Winter
Last Updated: 7:40AM GMT 01/03/2011
Welcome to England, land of elbows and shotguns. Welcome to Stamford Bridge tonight when Wayne Rooney’s Manchester United collide with Ashley Cole’s Chelsea to restage the Glorious 12th. The shouts will be of “duck†and “shootâ€.
The past few days of forearms and firearms have been damaging for football’s image, bringing a wearying reminder of the excesses of some players and the Football Association’s familiar failure to respond as responsible governors should.
Neros in blazers, the Wembley beaks refused to punish Rooney for his very obvious elbow on Wigan’s James McCarthy. The FA also eschewed the opportunity to become involved after Cole accidentally fired an air-rifle at a Cobham work-experience boy. Fortunately, both McCarthy and the pellet-hit intern are fine. Unfortunately, more harm was inflicted on football’s reputation.
Rooney first. The FA simpered on Monday that it could do nothing, that it had to rely on Mark Clattenburg acknowledging his mistake, that “re-refereeing†games is frowned on by Fifa.
Weak. It should have urged an arrogant referee to understand fully the dark ramifications of not owning up to his error. The FA could even have intervened on grounds of “extraordinary circumstancesâ€.
In protecting an errant official, the FA has served only to undermine the whole refereeing community. Officials appear in awe of stars like Rooney, as seen in Clattenburg’s naively matey huddle with the England attacker. Referees and the authorities now look afraid of upsetting Sir Alex Ferguson.
English football has been down this rocky road before; Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard has been treated leniently by the FA in the past, although the organisation is very quick at clamping down on players’ tweets.
One day, somebody at the FA will be a leader of substance, a Winston Churchill rather than a Captain Mainwaring, and call the stars to account. Dream on.
Sadly, the FA’s inertia could exacerbate tensions between the leading clubs. Some of United’s rivals are known to be privately aggrieved by Rooney’s let-off. “We’re Manchester United,†the visiting fans in the corner of the Shed will sing tonight, “we’ll do what we wantâ€.
Yet the FA is equally meek towards all the elite clubs.
A year ago, Ferguson railed about FA failure to take retrospective action against the Liverpool pair of Javier Mascherano and Gerrard who appeared to have struck Jermaine Beckford and Michael Brown respectively. “Maybe one day, we will get lucky,†said Ferguson. He did on Monday.
The Scot is a distinguished manager, but one can only imagine the eruption if it had been McCarthy who had elbowed Rooney.
Manchester United are a great club, who play the game the right way under Ferguson, but Rooney’s unchecked elbow should embarrass them.
More sensibly, Ferguson has called for unemployed managers to sit on an FA review panel, analysing the weekend’s main incidents.
To such a logical suggestion, the timid, blinkered FA argues that if it starts getting involved retrospectively, referees will be even less likely to take decisive action during the 90 minutes, knowing the FA can tidy things up afterwards. Nonsense.
Hypocrisy runs through the FA’s stance. It does not want to impinge on referee’s decision-making yet lobbies avidly for goal-line technology, particularly in the wake of Frank Lampard’s shot against Germany in Bloemfontein.
The FA should be ensuring justice is done, that mistakes can be rectified. Nobody is advocating that results be changed, simply that catching culprits is important whether the match is on-going or concluded. Inconsistency riddles FA thoughts.
It pours money into a glossy Respect campaign and then sits idly by as one high-profile footballer elbows a lesser one.
Those right-minded souls seeking to instil healthy sporting habits into impressionable youngsters have had their tasks further complicated by Clattenburg and the compliant officers of the FA.
“How will I explain this most recent action from their ‘role model’?†one teacher lamented on Monday. “Another accident?â€
The so-called guardians of the game have inadvertently encouraged theatrical behaviour. McCarthy should have rolled around, the FA seems to be saying, because then even Clattenburg would have realised something serious had occurred.
Discreet sighs of frustration could be heard around the FA. Good people within the organisation know that their leaders, namely chairman David Bernstein and general secretary Alex Horne, are in the public stocks, pilloried for an unwillingness to take charge of the Wild West of English football.
Horne’s decision to question Fifa’s fitness to govern is both legitimate and rather rich. English pot meets Swiss kettle.
And so to Cole, who seems to have forgotten he has left the Gunners.
Few were expecting Chelsea to discipline the former Arsenal player properly for rash use of an air-rifle. The full-back has apparently been fined, around £250,000, which will hardly drag a multi-millionaire towards the breadline. Not even the ciabatta-line.
A feeling of lawlessness creeps through the game. One of the unintentionally amusing moments in the whole Cobham-as-Bisley fallout came from a police spokesman, who also provided one of the most enlightening comments. The spokesman said officers would interview “whoever runs the training establishmentâ€. Good question. John Terry? John Wayne?
Certainly not the FA. The incident occurred on Chelsea’s private property, away from match-days, but general rules of good conduct still apply. Footballers messing around with firearms brings the game into disrepute. Simple.
As the FA is patently incapable of dealing with the dysfunctional traits of Rooney and Cole, then the Premier League academies need to work harder to develop individuals who are balanced as people as well as footballers.
The three players recently voted as the world’s top triumvirate, Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi, were all schooled at La Masia.
“The whole culture is based on work ethic and family ethic,†observed Pep Guardiola of Barcelona’s Academy, adding that “we approach the game with a high degree of humilityâ€. Messi, Iniesta and Xavi make fine role models.
English Academies need to shape players who exude self-belief not arrogance, who appreciate that one day somebody in authority will have the courage to challenge such behaviour.
Not all is lost. A straw poll of contacts quickly gleaned many names who can be lauded as exceptional role models, starting with Rooney’s team-mates Ryan Giggs and Chris Smalling. Cole’s colleague Lampard represents the game well on and off the pitch.
Other ambassadors include Scott Parker, Phil Neville, Michael Dawson, Theo Walcott, Danny Murphy, James Milner, Phil Jagielka, Stewart Downing and Matthew Upson. Among others.
So Rooney and Cole do their peers a disservice. So does Clattenburg with his whistle-blowing brethren. But few will be surprised to find the FA letting down the game again. Welcome to England.
Wigan owner Dave Whelan has hit out at the Football Association after seeing Wayne Rooney escape retrospective punishment.
The Latics supremo had expected the Manchester United striker to be sanctioned for his actions in the Red Devils' 4-0 victory at the DW Stadium on Saturday.
During that contest, Rooney caught James McCarthy on the back of the head after seeing the Wigan midfielder block his path.
Whelan believes the incident was an act of petulance on behalf of the England international and needs to be addressed by the authorities.
Rooney will, however, face no reprimand as referee Mark Clattenburg awarded a free-kick at the time and included in his match report that he felt appropriate action had been taken.
The FA is now powerless to act on the matter, leaving Whelan to question its position when it comes to dealing with misdemeanours by the so-called 'top' clubs.
Intimidated
He told The Lying Rag: "It sends out a terrible message.
"Something is wrong when a top international like Rooney is seen doing something like this, as clear as day, and is allowed to get away without being punished.
"If it was any other club or player, you can bet your life he would have been sent off. But officials seem intimidated by the words 'Rooney' and 'United'.
"Manchester United are allowed to get away with things the rest of us get pulled up for. And you can't have one set of rules for one club and another for the rest.
"I don't care what the FA say about the matter being dealt with at the time by us getting a free-kick. They, and everyone else in football, know justice isn't being served here.
"The FA will be delighted they can hide behind their rules and let Rooney off, as they are frightened of taking sanctions against him and his club."
The Latics supremo had expected the Manchester United striker to be sanctioned for his actions in the Red Devils' 4-0 victory at the DW Stadium on Saturday.
During that contest, Rooney caught James McCarthy on the back of the head after seeing the Wigan midfielder block his path.
Whelan believes the incident was an act of petulance on behalf of the England international and needs to be addressed by the authorities.
Rooney will, however, face no reprimand as referee Mark Clattenburg awarded a free-kick at the time and included in his match report that he felt appropriate action had been taken.
The FA is now powerless to act on the matter, leaving Whelan to question its position when it comes to dealing with misdemeanours by the so-called 'top' clubs.
Intimidated
He told The Lying Rag: "It sends out a terrible message.
"Something is wrong when a top international like Rooney is seen doing something like this, as clear as day, and is allowed to get away without being punished.
"If it was any other club or player, you can bet your life he would have been sent off. But officials seem intimidated by the words 'Rooney' and 'United'.
"Manchester United are allowed to get away with things the rest of us get pulled up for. And you can't have one set of rules for one club and another for the rest.
"I don't care what the FA say about the matter being dealt with at the time by us getting a free-kick. They, and everyone else in football, know justice isn't being served here.
"The FA will be delighted they can hide behind their rules and let Rooney off, as they are frightened of taking sanctions against him and his club."
manu will always have an advantage over other teams whilst their players escape punishment whilst the opposition does not and whilst they are given decisions whilst the opposition is not. that's just the nature of the beast, I'm sure the situation was similar for us when we were top for nigh on 20 years.
26 (first title of the modern era 1964, last one we won 1990), and the situation had its similarities in that we were sometimes accused of getting more than our share of favourable refereeing decisions, but not nearly as often or by so many people. Either it just didn't happen as often for us, or we weren't as hated as the Mancs are now. I actually suspect a bit of both.
[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=44387.msg1293026#msg1293026 date=1298999381]
26 (first title of the modern era 1964, last one we won 1990), and the situation had its similarities in that we were sometimes accused of getting more than our share of favourable refereeing decisions, but not nearly as often or by so many people. Either it just didn't happen as often for us, or we weren't as hated as the Mancs are now. I actually suspect a bit of both.
[/quote]
Probably pre the "Sky camera up your arse" era as well.
26 (first title of the modern era 1964, last one we won 1990), and the situation had its similarities in that we were sometimes accused of getting more than our share of favourable refereeing decisions, but not nearly as often or by so many people. Either it just didn't happen as often for us, or we weren't as hated as the Mancs are now. I actually suspect a bit of both.
[/quote]
Probably pre the "Sky camera up your arse" era as well.
Indeed, not to mention the "Murdoch Organisation buying a stake in your club" era.
[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=44387.msg1292964#msg1292964 date=1298987734]
Well said.
[/quote]
What? The same Dave Whelan who is part of the clique who kisses Fergie's arse. He can fuck off as far as I'm concerned.
Well said.
[/quote]
What? The same Dave Whelan who is part of the clique who kisses Fergie's arse. He can fuck off as far as I'm concerned.
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