Ref change for Bin Dippers v Rags...

[pardoe]

Does anyone else think it's a bit dodgy that the man who was assigned to officiate the Liverpool v United game this weekend, Martin Atkinson (the harshest ref in the league according to the stats) has suddenly developed a virus and been replaced by Mark Halsey (the man the stats show to be the most leniant)?

I was only going to watch if there was a realistic chance of seeing a few of either side getting punched in the gob. Might paint the box room now.

* Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere, or if you don't care.

 

[es1]

yes, its a conspiracy

there's absolutely no chance that Martin Atkinson is in any way ill

if 'they' wanted a lenient ref first up they would hav simply appointed halsey not atkinson

nothing to see here

 

[waspish]

100% BaconChops been on to the Fa Atkinson hasn't refereed a rags match for 11 months after BaconChops has a go at him! Whose running football in this country hey

 

[ell]

Why cant we have a change? FFS Walton

 

[Gazza]

If referees are so above suspicion and impartial why can't they referee a game in which their supported team is playing?

 

[leecollins]

howard webb frequently refs rags so they already are !

 

[Gazza]

howard webb frequently refs rags so they already are !

Yeah sorry ;-)

 

[betty swollocks]

Scared referee?

Sounds to me the referees are just making things up as they go now!
A snippet from the bbcsport site.....

Referee Martin Atkinson will definitely miss the game, after pulling out because of illness. It is now almost 11 months since Atkinson took charge of a Manchester United game, after he was fiercely criticised by Sir Alex Ferguson after United's 2-1 defeat by Chelsea.
Full story: the Times (subsciption required)


11 months is a long time for a premier ref to dodge a team.
Give Howard a tinkle I'm sure he'll cover!

 

[BlueTG]

Re: Scared referee?

If he is scared to ref after fergie criticised him then he needs to grow a pair, although I'd imagine it'd have to be proven if he's ill, not just phone up because he's bottling it, but I dont know for certain.

 

[laserblue]

Re: Scared referee?

clattenburg didn't referee an everton game from october 2007 until this month. this was after giving liverpool a penalty in injury time while failing to give everton a nailed on pen even deeper into injury time.