Refereeing

Subterms

    More stories

    • 288 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Bizarre cup final saw Chelsea star play twice in 24 hours and City awarded outrageous pen as ref ‘was having bit of fun’

      by

      RODRI – look away now. If you aren’t already knackered you will be after reading this.Manchester City’s overworked midfielder broke with tradition ten days ago by pleading for a rest, because the hectic football calendar is catching up on him.Chelsea star Pat Nevin won the 1986 Full Members’ Cup – 24 hours after playing against SouthamptonCredit: GettyAlan Saunders was the referee ‘having fun’ during the Wembley showdownCredit: GettyHe will probably start against Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday, though, in an example of a thoroughly modern FA Cup semi-final: late kick-off and no replay to drain the legs.Back in 1986, the two teams met at the same ground in the now-defunct Full Members’ Cup on March 23 with both teams having played the day before in the old Division One.City drew 2-2 at Manchester United while Chelsea won 1-0 at Southampton then whizzed back up to London to prepare for the game.Winger Pat Nevin played two full 90-minute matches in 24 hours. A league game and cup final on consecutive days. The stuff of Rodri’s nightmares.READ MORE ON CHELSEAChelsea won 5-4 as 67,000 fans turned up.For slender Nevin, it was a doddle.He said: “Wembley is quite taxing, it’s a big pitch and in those days anyway, quite sapping because it was lush grass. It was asking a lot but I don’t actually remember feeling tired.“But my background was as a distance runner so I could go forever.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER“The big, heavier guys struggled more than anyone else. I think Kerry Dixon was injured that day.“The Chelsea fans turned up as if it was the Champions League final. It was weird. Chelsea hadn’t been at Wembley for a long time, so they were enjoying a day out. I think we were 5-1 up with five minutes to go.Chelsea’s plans for £1bn new stadium“The referee was just having a laugh. He gave them a penalty right at the end to make it 5-4. I was furious. I shouted at him, ‘What are you doing?’“He said, ‘I’m just having a bit of fun and will blow up after this, don’t worry.’ I thought, ‘I like your style, mate.'”Chelsea played 52 matches in season 1985-86 and finished sixth.Nevin, 60, said: “If you check, we played a lot of games that year. But it was injuries that got us more than tiredness.“In 850 games as a professional I never once said I was tired, and I wasn’t the only one.“We had much, much smaller squads. You played with injury. The concept of being in the red zone so they take you off didn’t exist. You ran through it.“Players have always pushed themselves to the edge, okay some of us may have two metal hips now because of it, but you take that.“I loved it. I thought ‘Yes, they’ll be knackered.’ Any weakness, you turn it into a positive.“So if I have two games in two days, so do they. It’s, ‘Let’s see if you are as fit as me’. It’s just the way elite sport is.”’I’M NOT SYMPATHETIC’Rodri has played 48 matches this season and is the beating heart of a City team chasing a league and cup double after exiting European competition in midweek.Nevin said: “I am not deeply sympathetic. Nobody is 100 per cent fit.“Rodri has the right to say it. But there are some I think, ‘Come on give us a break.’“In a different era, if you’d said you were too tired and didn’t play next week, somebody else would take your place and you might not get back in.“It doesn’t happen so much now. And if you are on £60,000, £70,000 a week does it matter if you don’t get in?“Back then it was your livelihood. So even if you did want a rest you couldn’t afford it. Not only did you lose your place in the team, but your wages.”The Full Members’ Cup was a substitute for European competition with English clubs banned following the 1985 Heysel Stadium riot.READ MORE SUN STORIESNevin said: “It was completely for the fans, They deserve it. They have waited since Peter Osgood and Charlie Cook. “I was fine after it. It’s not that I am Superman. I am a bit of an oddity.”David Speedie grabbed a hat-trick for the BluesCredit: GettyChelsea were 5-1 up with five minutes to goCredit: GettyCity scored in the 85th and 88th minutes before the controversial 89th-minute penaltyCredit: Getty More

    • 200 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Xavi launches stinging attack on referee after Barcelona knocked out of Champions League thanks to ‘mistake’

      by

      BARCELONA manager Xavi lashed out at the referee following his team’s heartbreaking Champions League elimination.Barca hosted Paris Saint-Germain at the Nou Camp in the quarter-finals with a 3-2 advantage following last week’s victory in the first leg at Parc des Princes.Barcelona boss Xavi lashed out at the referee after the elimination by Paris Saint-GermainCredit: EPAXavi was furious with the referee, who sent him and Ronaldo Araujo offCredit: APThe Blaugrana opened the scoring after just 12 minutes to extend their lead but it all went downhill after that as they lost Ronald Araujo to a controversial red card after he tripped Bradley Barcola.PSG went on to punch their ticket to the semi-finals with a 4-1 victory thanks to goals by ex-Barcelona star Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha as well as a brace by Real Madrid-bound Kylian Mbappe.Xavi’s evening got even worse after he was also sent off for angrily kicking Champions League padding around the VAR monitor near his dugout.As he walked away from the touchline, the ex-midfield maestro could be seen taking off his coat and having a quick chat with assistant Oscar Hernandez.Read More on FootballThe Spaniard was left fuming and confronted referee Istvan Kovacs at full-time, calling him a “disaster before giving him both barrels during his post-match interview.Xavi said: “It’s a pity, our Champions League is over due to referee’s mistake.“I just told the referee that he’s been a disaster. It’s the reality”.This officially marks Xavi’s last Champions League match as Barcelona manager.Most read in Champions LeagueThe Catalan tactician confirmed earlier this season that he will be leaving his beloved club after three years in charge.The 44-year-old head coach missed the chance of leaving the Catalan giants with silverware as his team are eight points behind LaLiga leaders Real Madrid in the table.Football icons’ strange hobbiesPSG are now set to face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League semi-finals.Dortmund made it to the final four after knocking Atletico Madrid out with an aggregate of 5-4. More

    • 200 Shares129 Views

      in Soccer

      Xavi sent off for Barcelona after lashing out moments after PSG levelled tense Champions League tie

      by

      XAVI was sent off for kicking out during Barcelona’s Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain.The Barcelona boss lost his cool on the touchline as he booted padding around the VAR monitor.Xavi lashed out on the touchlineCredit: TNT SPORTSThe manager was not impressed with the refereeCredit: TNT SPORTSReferee Istvan Kovacs showed the Spaniard a straight red cardCredit: GettyXavi, 44, was given a straight red card for his outburst by Romanian international referee Istvan Kovacs.The Spaniard was clearly frustrated after signing his side lose a 4-2 aggregate lead on the night.As he walked away from the touchline, Xavi could be seen taking off his coat and having a quick chat with assistant Oscar Hernandez.Fans reacted to the moment as they flooded social media.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLOne commented: “So stupid from Xavi!”A second wrote: “Poor Xavi.”A third posted: “Xavi is a crybaby.”A fourth said: “Please Xavi, leave now.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSAnother added: “Xavi really leaves our club.”Raphinha had scored the opening goal before Paris Saint-Germain hit back with goals from Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha.Eight of the greatest players to never win the Ballon d’Or despite their incredible careersRonald Araujo was also shown a straight red card earlier in the match for a last-man challenge.To make matters worse, moments later, the Ligue 1 side were awarded a penalty as Dembele was fouled by Joao Cancelo.Kylian Mbappe converted from the sport to put PSG 5-4 ahead in the tie.Barcelona then had another blow as Hernandez was given a second yellow card and also handed his marching orders, leaving the team two coaches down.Mbappe sealed the win in the 89th minute as he fired in after a swift counter-attack.Barcelona had gone into the second leg 3-2 up, having won a thrilling first leg at the Parc des Princes. More

    • 225 Shares199 Views

      in Soccer

      Footie clash descends into chaos as referee is bitten by SNAKE after bizarre backpack plan goes horribly wrong

      by

      A FOOTBALL clash descended into chaos after the referee was bitten TWICE by a snake.A game between GFS Leskovac Gornje Sinkovce and Radnik 2013 in Serbia was suddenly interrupted for the bizarre reason.One man decided to use his backpack to try and shove the serpent off the pitchThe incident happened during a game in SerbiaCredit: @fkgornjesinkovceThe game was halted as people tried to usher the serpent off the grass.Footage showed the referee, Aleksandar Gorcic, remaining calm as the snake slithered on.And in the video that has now gone viral someone off the pitch came in and bizarrely tried to throw out the snake with their backpack.But that did not work and the ref then stopped the snake in its tracks by putting his foot on it, picking it up and throwing it off the field.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSAnd fans could only praise Gorcic for his courageous act.As one said: “This needs to be sent to Uefa this referee deserves to referee the Champions League final.Another then put: “Hats off to the courage of the referee.”While another joked about the snake: “Who is the referee?”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERAfter the match, reports in Serbia said Gorcic had been bitten twice by the reptile.The club have also confirmed that the snake was not injured.Football stars’ weird phobiasAccording to eyewitnesses, it is a non-poisonous snake, but it still can sink its fangs down, which is what the referee felt on his skin. More

    • 200 Shares199 Views

      in Soccer

      Borussia Dortmund have penalty overturned by VAR DURING ex-Man Utd star’s run up in never-before-seen moment

      by

      BORUSSIA DORTMUND were denied a goal in a never-before-seen moment during their game against Borussia Monchengladbach.The Bundesliga giants were leading the match 2-1 at Borussia-Park as they looked to keep pace with RB Leipzig in the Champions League spots.Marcel Sabitzer had two penalties against Borussia MönchengladbachCredit: APHe converted both effortsCredit: GettyThe second was stopped for a VAR check during his run-upCredit: AFPThe referee could be seen blowing his whistle just as Sabitzer was about to strike the ballDortmund started the match well as they raced into a 2-0 lead inside 28 minutes thanks to a brace from Marcel Sabitzer.Monchengladbach found a way back into the tie as Maximilian Wober bagged in the 36th minute.Former Manchester United loanee Sabitzer then thought he had the chance to restore his side’s two-goal lead in the 51st minute.Karim Adeyemi appeared to be brought down by Jonas Omlin as the referee pointed to the spot.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLSabitzer stepped up to take the penalty but as he was about to kick the ball the referee blew his whistle once again.As the ball hit the net, the players were subject to a very late VAR check on the incident.The decision arrived to overturn the penalty as Omlin was judged to have won the ball fairly.Fans were left in shock as they reacted on social media.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSOne posted: “Sabitzer was taking a penalty, converted the penalty but just when he was about to hit it, the referee stopped him and went for a VAR check to CANCEL the penalty. Remarkable moment!”A second commented: “What in the name of VAR is that in Bundesliga?”I’m Dortmund’s sexiest fan and I double up as a lingerie model and nurse.. Marco Reus is the love of my lifeA third wrote: “The game is gone man honestly.”A fourth said: “Such a heartbreaker.”A fifth fumed: “Since when can you do that.”Another added: “Surely they can’t do that? the pen has already been called.”To make matters worse, the decision denied Sabitzer a hat-trick in the match.Adeyemi was then sent off in the 55th minute for a second bookable offence.However, Dortmund were able to hold on to the slender lead and take three points home with them. More

    • 225 Shares119 Views

      in Soccer

      Mikel Arteta breaks silence on Gabriel ‘handball’ as Arsenal boss claims ref DID follow rules on ‘scandalous’ decision

      by

      MIKEL ARTETA has praised the referee for using “common sense” by not issuing a handball penalty in the 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich.Gabriel caused a stir after picking the ball up from a short David Raya goal-kick before restarting play during the Emirates clash on Tuesday night.Mikel Arteta has praised the referee for using “common sense” for not giving a penalty against Gabriel in the 2-2 draw with Bayern MunichCredit: GettyThe Arsenal defender picked up the ball from a short David Raya goal-kick before restarting playBased on the word of the law, Arsenal should have conceded a second penalty against Bayern Munich with the referee reportedly “admitting” to seeing a clear handball in the box.Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel was left frustrated, claiming that whistler Glenn Nyberg told him he saw the bizarre incident.But Arteta hailed the Nyberg for making the right decision.He said: “I did notice the Gabriel handball story, especially after where there was a certain reaction from Bayern…”. READ MORE ARSENAL”The referees used the law and the law says to use common sense and whether you take an advantage from that situation which there isn’t any advantage”.According to the International Football Association Board (IFAB): “Referees are expected to use common sense and to apply the ‘spirit of the game’ when applying the Laws of the Game.”This use of common sense is commonly referred to as ‘Law 18′ in IFAB’s Laws of the Game, which does not actually include a Law 18.After the game, Tuchel told TNT Sports: “The referee did not have the courage today to give us a deserved penalty, in a bit of a crazy and awkward situation.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER”He admitted on the pitch that he saw the situation and that in a quarter-final it’s not enough for him to give a penalty for a kids’ mistake.”So he admitted that he knows about the mistake the player made. That is a bit frustrating.”What happened to Highbury?In his post-match press conference, Tuchel, 50, later added: “I felt a lot of little decisions go against us… and a huge mistake in not giving us a penalty.”What makes us really angry is the explanation on the pitch. He said it’s a kid’s mistake and isn’t giving a penalty for that.”Arsenal will have to pull it back and win at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night to secure a spot in the semi-finals.How Arteta made Arsenal horrible again, with Tony Pulis tactic and gentle star turned into Diego Costa-style hate figureBy Dave Kidd
      BOTTLERS, chokers, shandy-drinking southern softies.
      These were the charges levelled at Arsenal when they blew the title last season.
      And even if the actual reason they failed was because William Saliba got injured and Rob Holding had to start, Mikel Arteta clearly took those accusations to heart.
      If his team are not crowned champions next month, the Gunners boss has categorically ensured that they won’t go down being accused of nicey-niceyness.
      Because, as well as being thrillingly entertaining and free-scoring when they want to be, this season’s Arsenal are also thoroughly horrible.They are not here to make friends. They are not interested in being anybody’s second-favourite team.
      And so, six days after stink-bombing the Etihad with a display of Mourinho-esque anti-football for a 0-0 draw, Arsenal turned up at the home of former bogey-team Brighton and s***housed their way to a thoroughly impressive 3-0 win.
      How wonderful for the travelling Gooners to witness Ben White — against his former club — going down as if he’d taken a bullet to his neck when Brighton’s Pervis Estupinan brushed against him.
      White is renowned as a gentle and decent bloke, intelligent enough to challenge the zeitgeist and claim there might be things in life other than football.
      And yet suddenly he’s become some Diego Costa-style anti-hero hate figure, his wife goading the masses by posting social-media pictures of them playing a childish card game on a sun lounger after he’d refused an international call-up.
      Because Arsenal are horrible again. Even Ben White is a villain.And that might just be Arteta’s greatest triumph.
      Click here to read Dave Kidd’s column in full.
      To read more from Dave Kidd, click here. More

    • 275 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      Blunder ref to return to VAR duty for first time in SEVEN MONTHS after horror gaffe in Liverpool vs Spurs last September

      by

      DARREN ENGLAND will return to the Premier League VAR hotseat for the first time in seven months this weekend.England was moved out of the limelight following his huge blunder in the match between Tottenham and Liverpool last September.Darren England will be back in the VAR box for West Ham vs Fulham on SundayCredit: GettyEngland was responsible for a huge error in communicating the correct decision to the on-field referee in the Tottenham v Liverpool gameCredit: Premier LeagueBut it has now been announced the 38-year-old will be back on VAR duty for the West Ham versus Fulham game on Sunday.Wade Smith will be the VAR assistant for the London derby, while Stuart Attwell will lead the on-field team with assistants Harry Lennard and James Mainwaring and fourth official Michael Salisbury.In England’s last match as VAR on September 30, he disallowed a perfectly legal Luis Diaz goal for offside that would have changed the outcome of the match that ended 2-1 to Spurs. Footage released afterwards showed how England had incorrectly communicated a “check complete” decision to on-field referee Simon Hooper.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLIt reveals VAR officials England and assistant Dan Cook drew the lines showing that Diaz was onside, with an indication given by the officials that the check was complete.However, the officials then realised play had resumed without the correct decision being made.Assistant video referee Cook then backs this up by saying: “That’s wrong Daz”.Upon realising the error, England be heard saying: “Oh ****.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKEREngland was stood down in the weeks that followed to take the pressure off him, before he was eased back as a fourth official for the October 23 game between Brentford and Burnley.PGMOL bosses have been careful to ease him back into matches since then, with only six Premier League appointments in the last two months, including this months clash between Manchester City and Aston Villa.Dean Scoggins travels to FC Koln in Germany to find Europe’s best Away DayHe was back at Stockley Park’s VAR hub for two FA Cup ties, including Bournemouth vs Leicester in February, with Michael Oliver acting as VAR support on both occasions.The Premier League announced yesterday that it would be introducing semi-automated offside technology from next season.However, England’s blunder ultimately came from a communication issue rather than tech, so the move will not be able to fix the types of errors that were seen in north London in September. More

    • 163 Shares149 Views

      in Soccer

      Premier League clubs blasted for ‘ludicrously’ introducing new technology AFTER next season starts

      by

      PREM clubs have been blasted for their “ludicrous” decision to bring in semi-automated offside technology AFTER next season has started.The 20 top-flight sides yesterday unanimously voted to back refs’ chief Howard Webb’s recommendation to use the new system — which will slash the time on VAR offside calls.Prem clubs have voted to bring in semi-automated offside technologyCredit: TNT SportsThe decision was labelled ‘ludicrous’Credit: TNT SportsBut the limb-tracking cameras will NOT be ready for the August Prem kick-off.And ex-Prem ref Mark Halsey insists the clubs have scored an embarrassing own goal, fuming: “It’s ludicrous we are not bringing this in from day one next season.“The Premier League is awash with money and it needs to be operational for every match. “It’s got to be ready for the season kick-off. We can’t bring it in four, five or six weeks into the season as that will question the competition’s integrity. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”If it’s not ready, then wait until 2025-26.”The new SAOT system — which sees the Prem follow Fifa and Uefa’s lead — will not be used until after one of the three autumn international breaks in September, October and November.That allows an agreement over the right provider and the roll-out of the camera tech across the 20 grounds.Halsey added: “SAOT should have been introduced at the start of last season to follow on from the World Cup and the Champions League.Most read in Football“The clubs didn’t vote for it but the stakeholders of the League should have been working on it during the winter. What have they been waiting for?What are semi-automated offsides?
      PREMIER LEAGUE clubs have voted in the use of semi-automated offsides from the 2024-25 season.
      The technology tracks 29 different points on the body of every player.
      Together with a chip in the football, the tech then can produce almost instantaneous decisions, even on the tightest of calls.
      These are then visualised with computer-generated 3D images which clearly show the offence on a screen for fans watching the broadcast from home.
      Referees on the pitch will need to step in and intervene if the offside call is subjective – ie the player in an offside position does not touch the ball.
      Here’s how it works:

      Each ground will have up to 12 special cameras with limb-tracking technology.
      These will focus on 29 goal-scoring body parts from every player on the pitch and will record their position 50 times per second.
      During the World Cup in Qatar, the microchip in the ball sent back data points 500 times every second to determine the  precise instant it was played by an attacker OR a defender
      That allowed the computer technology to alert the VAR that a player was in an offside position when the ball was played
      But all decisions were then checked to ensure the attacker was interfering with play
      The average time for an offside call in Qatar was cut to 25 seconds per incident
      In future, a 3D animation will “show” the decision to fans in the stadium and via broadcasters, and this will be available by the next stoppage in play after the decision.

      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS“The Prem is the best in the world but we always seem to be behind. I’ve been championing SAOT for a few years.“We have seen too much controversy over offsides and the length of time taken. It’s great the change is finally being made.”Haaland slapped by referee during Man City’s clash with Real Madrid More