Arsenal Get Bad Referees Or Referees Get A Hard Deal?
Week after week, matchday after matchday - a certain correlation occurs. No matter what allegiance you bear, this pattern shows itself to everyone who call themselves fans. Is it the vitriol aimed at whoever is this weeks donkey? No. This occurs but isn't what I am highlighting.
Could it be the peals of laughter aimed squarely at Alan Pardew and the fact that he has zero talent to couple with his lack of knowledge of the game? No, but this is also commonplace and quite frankly hilarious.
The link I speak of is the constant deriding of match officials.
They say that goalkeepers tend to have a few tools missing from the mental toolbox. It comes with the territory. As we experienced the delights of 'Mad Dog' Lehmann first hand, we can attest to this. Think then of the role of referee or linesman. Surely if goalkeepers are slightly unhinged then officials must spend their spare time shouting at mice and playing hopscotch on landmines. It's a cataclysm of a job.
It takes a number of qualifications, a huge amount of devotion to the craft and no meagre amount of time to reach Level 1 of officiating - which is the pinnacle of the trade and what Premier League ref's must attain - so there must be a real hunger for the game to chase this path. They would all be aware of the vitriol and labelling they will face. From grassroots in the local park to the North London Derby - the language they will endure would outstrip Frankie Boyle with a stubbed toe. To be able to shrug this off and maintain a cool head that is able to make split-second decisions is something most would lack. Some of the current crop of ref's in the Premiership some would say still do.
It's not a case of these unassuming men armed with whistles being simple victims of burly men screaming obscenities and hurling spittle in their direction though - the vilification aimed at them is borne from frustration at ineptitude. Indeed - specialist chants from fans are solely for the officials ears. It isn't curbed to the most outspoken of spectators either. The referee and his band of brothers in black/yellow are a soft target - a stress ball squeezed and kneaded by all in times of pressure, fear or to simply boost camaraderie. I've been to the Emirates sitting next to all manner of people and each and every one has berated the officials in their own way. With either a conversational diatribe, a series of gesticulations or an unleashing of expletives - all and sundry feel that criticism squared at the one-man team on the pitch is fair game.
Let us use an exhibit to showcase and illustrate. Our Champions League clash vs Galatasaray. I thought the Ref - Gianluca Rocchi - made a solid start and attempted to let the game flow by overlooking appeals from both sides when it was a case of a slight shoulder barge or a 50-50 tussle. I believe from gleaning opinions from most that this approach is the most favourable. He stayed on the fringes of the game and wasn't attempting to move the spotlight from either team (Uriah Rennie could've learned a thing or two about that). Then there was the first flashpoint.
Without doubt, this was a red card offence. Whether you are choosing to apply the letter of the law verbatim or using your discretion - the tackle/lunge by Felipe Melo was full of intent, two-footed and dangerous. For this, he received a yellow card. Strike one for Rocchi.
Why wasn't he given his marching orders? Rocchi's vision wasn't impeded nor was he fifty feet away from the incident. He was keeping up with play well and besides - Melo took to the skies about five feet before impacting upon our talented Chilean. That's the equivalent of a plane runway. So he would've seen the full reel. How can he then justify his viewpoint that the attempt to get the ball/break Alexis's legs warranted only a booking? Consistency with decisions or not, the yellow card instead of the red only served to infuriate the crowd.
