Refs in Europe

[bluebastardo]

I watched some highlights tonight of the English clubs playing in the Champions League, and continued to watch a few other fixtures.

I watched the Arsenal match, and couldn't help thinking that the ref just wasn't up to the task, in the way he handled each situation.

An absolute blatant penalty for Arsenal denied, closely followed by a rediculous 2 minutes involving a back pass, a dodgy free kick, and a goal for Porto.

There are a few points that come into this scenario that can be divided by opinion, but the main case for Arsenal is that the referee has become an active part of play, and almost reinvented himself as a 12th Porto player.

Arsenal have the ball in hand, and the refereee walks over, takes the ball, places it in the hands of the Porto player rather promptly, and while the refereee is interfering with play by not leaving the immidiate area, the Porto player takes the kick quickly, passing it a few feet, and Porto put the ball in the net.

The goal stands much to the bewilderment of Arsenal.


In another game, the Bayern Munich player is yards offside, but is allowed to join the play and score.
Earlier in the same game, the ref disallows a goal, and instead, awards a penalty.

Now refs can always try and justify their performances, often refering to the rule book during the process for a life line, but are these same refs really up to the job for these important matches?

Apparently 32 countries are submitting referees to the World cup, with Mexico and New Zealand providing 2.

How these referees are chosen is beyond comprehension in the eyes of many, and some expect a refereeing fiasco to take place in Africa.

Is there an agenda against English teams?
Is it just that refs are below standard?

I'm sure there are more examples in which to highlight inefficiencies, but it's a dodgy situation at best.

Picture England v Spain in the final, be it in the European or World cup final.
The score lies at 2-2, and England score with 30 seconds of normal time remaining. The referee blows for a foul in the box, and disallows the goal.

Defoe steps up and misses.

England lose on penalties minutes later.

It doesn't even need to be England. The point is it's a situation that could be abused.

Any thoughts?
Sorry for the long post.

 

[Rook]

England getting to the finals means they'll have to win at least one shootout which isn't happening.

However the reffing in the C-League matches have been shocking. The free kick was the only thing I didn't have a problem with though. Arse should have been ready. However I watched the Fior-Bayern match. Some dude for Fior was given a red for well Robben running full speed into his elbow. Then 5 min later Klose, Kuyt's some dudes ankle right in front of the ref and gets a yellow only. Klose was then only 81 yards offside for the goal to boot.

MLS refs could have done a better job.

 

[KelseyGrammer-Beast-SuitsBlue]

YouTube - Henry Chelsea Quick Free Kick
I do not recall Wenger complaining here, so, with the greatest of respect, shaft Arsenal and Arsene Wenger up the butt hole with lengths of barbed wire.

 

[Rook]

YouTube - Henry Chelsea Quick Free Kick
I do not recall Wenger complaining here, so, with the greatest of respect, shaft Arsenal and Arsene Wenger up the butt hole with lengths of barbed wire.

I was going to mention that as well. Arsene in the post game interview seemed to have the attitude of "The ref should have known that I have a team of idiots."

 

[Aztattooedfootballfan]

Arsenal are to blame in their match but even though I was rooting for Bayern, I can safely say that Fiorentina got shafted by the same ref that made bad calls at Stamford Bridge last year if I am not mistaken.:blink:

 

[atrottel]

That Bayern Munich game was beyond belief. Fiorentina player gets sent off when Robben imitates Gerrard on the sidelines. Klose makes a challenge (similar to Pienaar's) on a Fiorentina player and gets a yellow. And the goal in the final minutes was so far offside nobody neutral could believe it had been given.

(The referee is the same one from the controversial Chelsea-Barcelona match.)

But it's similar to Ferguson and his extra time - they even have a phrase for it: "Bayern-Dusel" - the "luck" of Bayern.

 

[gkpaul]

Fabianski had the ball in his hands and threw it back to the ref. If he didnt want a free kick to be taken quickly he should have held it longer. The moment he threw it back he should have been prepared to face a quick kick as is allowed. Tough titties really!

Was a penalty though. But I couldn't say for definite it was until the replay was shown. The ref can only give what he sees at normal speed on the ground.

 

[AdamTheGreatOneB]

Fabianski had the ball in his hands and threw it back to the ref. If he didnt want a free kick to be taken quickly he should have held it longer. The moment he threw it back he should have been prepared to face a quick kick as is allowed. Tough titties really!

Was a penalty though. But I couldn't say for definite it was until the replay was shown. The ref can only give what he sees at normal speed on the ground.

The only thing you can say is that if Fabianski had not given the ball to the ref, who was clearly asking for it, he would have been booked.

 

[gkpaul]

Thats true.

Just think that they should have been more alert to the whole situation. Its in the rules that a free kick can be taken early, they themselves have done it on a few occasions!

 

[AdamTheGreatOneB]

Thats true.

Just think that they should have been more alert to the whole situation. Its in the rules that a free kick can be taken early, they themselves have done it on a few occasions!

I agree with that mate. Campbell was standing there looking dumbfounded and the rest of the Arsenal players were just strolling back casually. Nothing wrong with them taking it quickly, the only complaint I would have if it happened to us is that the referee helped them by getting them the ball. In the past Henry has gone and got the ball himself and took the free kick.

I'm sure they'll beat them at the Emirates anyway.

 

[kenada_blue]

Saw the highlights of the Bayern game....some of the worst decisions I've seen for a while. Those officials need sacking or suspending for that.

As for the Arsenal thing......

Ref took the ball from the keeper and passed it to the player to do what he wishes. If the ref wanted to hold play, he'd have kept the ball or told the player to go on his whistle.

Its Arsenal's fault for being a bit slow and having a [Poor language removed] keeper last night although they should've had a peno.

 

[bluebastardo]

Thats true.

Just think that they should have been more alert to the whole situation. Its in the rules that a free kick can be taken early, they themselves have done it on a few occasions!

Would it be normal for a referee to stand inbetween the Cental Defender and the ball in such close quarters?

The ref interfered dramatically in Arsenals ability to defend, or even notice the ball was in the oppositions possession.

I always look at quick free kicks in that manner as unsporting at best and cheating at worst.

 

[gkpaul]

You dont switch off on the pitch no matter what happens. Fabianski committed one of the worse errors on a pitch the moment he turned his back to the ball. No matter what is happening you never do it, no matter what!

I have no sympathy with Arsenal at all. They are not the first team this has happened to and will not be the last either. Its in the rules you can take it early, they have done it before them selves. No one elses fault that they as a team switched off to the threat. How many times do you see players stand directly over the ball as soon as a kick is awarded moaning at the ref to help his team get back? Its not really fair but it happens in every game, they just did not re-act to it at all.

Im sure a yellow card for the keeper holding the ball, or a player standing in the way seems a lot better now than a goal!

 

[bluebastardo]

You dont switch off on the pitch no matter what happens. Fabianski committed one of the worse errors on a pitch the moment he turned his back to the ball. No matter what is happening you never do it, no matter what!

I have no sympathy with Arsenal at all. They are not the first team this has happened to and will not be the last either. Its in the rules you can take it early, they have done it before them selves. No one elses fault that they as a team switched off to the threat. How many times do you see players stand directly over the ball as soon as a kick is awarded moaning at the ref to help his team get back? Its not really fair but it happens in every game, they just did not re-act to it at all.

Im sure a yellow card for the keeper holding the ball, or a player standing in the way seems a lot better now than a goal!

But do you think the ref should have gotten well out of the way, or at least behind the ball.
The guy was actually immidiately in Campbells way, if not touching chest to chest.

That can't be right m8.

Why did the ref put his hand in the air inbetween the free kick being taken and the scorer scoring?

 

[gkpaul]

Campbell wasnt even making an effort to do anything about it anyway. Its not like the ref did it on purpose.