Managers should stop short of conspiracy theories
If there is one relationship more strained than most in English football, it is the one between referees and managers. Whilst trying to lead their team from the sideline, Premier League bosses regularly vent their frustration at what they see as incorrect decisions from the officials, but it is becoming more and more common for managers to publicly criticise a referee. A week rarely goes by right now without a manager outburst against a referee or their decisions. Whilst the fact that this is becoming an increasingly regular occurrence does raise fair questions about the standards of refereeing, why do the managers feel the world is against them after one bad decision?
Liverpool’s first defeat this season to Stoke City last weekend was met by obvious frustration from Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish, but most of his anger was directed not at his team but referee Mark Clattenburg. As is too often the case in recent years the game was more notable for controversial decisions rather than the football. Stoke’s fantastic 1-0 win was overshadowed by a number of penalty incidents: firstly Clattenburg’s decision to award Stoke a penalty for a foul on Jonathan Walters by Jamie Carragher; and then the referee’s failure to award Liverpool either of two possible penalties for handball claims in the box.
Despite Dalglish’s complaints I can’t completely agree with the Liverpool manager. Whilst Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty for what was a clear handball by Rory Delap in a possibly match changing decision, Stoke’s penalty was correctly awarded as Carragher dangerously had his arms around Walters in the penalty area. It was an unlucky situation for Liverpool and Clattenburg should be made fully aware that he got Liverpool’s penalty claim wrong but a simple mistake on the pitch should not be made into a full-blown conspiracy.
Referees, managers and accountability is a grey area for debate. Managers should have a right to opinion and fair comment on a referee’s decision but Dalglish’s comments after the Stoke game went further than one bad decision by Clattenburg. Dalglish was quoted as saying:
“The first four league games have had contentious decisions in them and every one has gone against us.
“If we continually get battered by things outside of our control we are not going to get much chance.”
Dalglish is by no means the only manager to criticise the referees. Sir Alex Ferguson’s outbursts against referees last season earned him an unprecedented five-match touchline ban. But this sense of conspiracy or bias on the back of a bad decision and ultimately human mistake creates a stronger sense of a siege mentality against referees.
The powers that be need to act quickly to sort out this refereeing mess but managers themselves need to be careful not to cross the line between understandable frustration and full blown conspiracy theory, as football again edges dangerously close to becoming too much about bad decisions and not enough about good football.
Do you think managers should avoid claiming a conspiracy against their team or was Dalglish right? If you want to read more of my bite size, 140 character views and thoughts follow me on Twitter @jennyk5
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This article is complete and utter tripe!! Firstly, Walters fouled Carragher whose arms came around Walters to stop him falling over, so Walters promptly fell to make it look like he was being fouled. Then not only did Clattenburg miss two stonewall penalties from Delap (blatant) and Upson (whose arm stopped a dangerous ball into the box, whether it came off his thigh first is irrelevant). Then there were fouls and Suarez and Skrtel (when he shot) and Etherington hurt himself fouling Skrtel. Let’s put it this way, if Fergie had been the opposing manager then at least two of those penalties would have been given and Stoke’s penalty would not have been given! Referees ARE biased and that’s why we need to start using the latest technology to help them make the right and fair calls. I will be watching Clattenburg and Co and watching for their inconsistencies in their decisions. Don’t worry you will soon see Clattenburg award similar penalties that he denied Liverpool to other teams and deny other similar penalty calls that he gave Stoke, of that I am certain!
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jennykerwood Reply:
September 16th, 2011 at 11:34 am
technology would be an obvious boost for all in the game but at the same time I think we have to be accepting of human mistakes. But I do agree with you on the point that it seems a too regular issue at the moment and that needs to be addressed.
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Dalglish needs to detract the attention from his teams inability to score in a game that Liverpool by any measure dominated. He has advised his board to spend a lot of cash on these players and he does not wish to carry the can.
Stoke played very well with the defence throwing bodies in front of dozens of shots [with a couple hitting defenders on the arms - so what?]. On the day Stoke were the better team and again beat Liverpool at the Brit.
We are the Potters and we’ll play as we want !
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