The worst thing about farcical officiating

[bobbyowenquiff]

Offside is objective not subjective, the rules are there in black and white and there is no grey areaView attachment 66224
Rashford was offside - confirmed by replays and the lineman flag.
He was interfering with play - shielding the ball by continuing to run between Akanji and the ball, thus preventing Akanji gaining possession. The lying bastard even tried to claim he stopped running when interviewed!
He gained an advantage - shielding the ball, stopping Akanji and Ederson getting to the ball by continuing his run, distracting Akanji, Ederson and possibly Walker.
His actions were an obvious action which clearly impacts the ability of an opponent to play the ball - dummying to shoot, shielding the ball from Akanji which stopped him getting to it and running towards goal which stopped Ederson coming out and gaining possession.
Ederson wouldn't know if he was offside or not, Akanji suspected he was offside but played to the whistle and knew he would be penalised regardless if he committed a foul meaning all he could do was follow Rashford (who stopped Akanji gaining possession from an offside position)
The linesman delayed his flag as instructed then raised it at the end of the phase as he knew it was offside.
The problem was Attwell failing to apply the laws, took him literally seconds to over rule his linesman despite being well away from the action.

Spot-on. This fake narrative being spread by some pundits that what happened was "within the laws" is just total bollocks. In fact the law is quite clear. Atwell did not even check the monitor. He just ignored the rules. No sane person can argue that Rashford was not "interfering with play."

 

[abu13]

I think the fact that you can barely find any ex pro, pundits or non rag fan that doesn't think this was offside just shows how fucked up this decision was. Every week there are controversial decisions and by and large there are as many people arguing the point as there are against it.

Not in this case,

 

[goatinho]

If Akanji takes Rashford down then we get a free kick for offside - I think ?

you honestly think we would get a free kick for akanji fouling him? really?

 

[Jesus H Gabz]

Attwell was utterly biased throughout the game and the Goal was the culmination of his entire performance. He’d ignored Malacia’s sole tactic of fouling Mahrez throughout the game and allowed a few out of control lunges by Ratface to go completely unpunished. To win at OT we have to take the cheating of the Officials out of the equation as we’ve done so well recently but on Saturday we didn’t do this. Attwell will no doubt get many future assignments from Howard Webb to Stretford on the back of his performance on Saturday

When you put it like that it does make you realise why Pep is so obsessed with possession & control. He’s not just taking the jeopardy of a counter attack out of the equation, he’s nullifying the cheating bastard ref

 

[Ribble73]

When you put it like that it does make you realise why Pep is so obsessed with possession & control. He’s not just taking the jeopardy of a counter attack out of the equation, he’s nullifying the cheating bastard ref

At OT and Klanfield I’ve no doubt whatsoever that Pep plans for the Officials cheating -and we all know he’s 100% right to do so. He sees what we see -but can only cryptically comment on it.

 

[Dodge]

Goal!​

Goal! Manchester United 1, Manchester City 1. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Casemiro with a through ball. Goal awarded following VAR Review.


Copied and pasted the above from the official Premier League matchday commentary. Didn't go to VAR? Well, they certainly seemed to think so at the time.

 

[Dodge]

VAR Decision: Goal Manchester United 1-1 Manchester City (Bruno Fernandes).


Confirmed 1 minute later, in a separate entry to the "goal" announcement.

Hmm...

 

[Bluearmy]

If Akanji takes Rashford down then we get a free kick for offside - I think ?

No, akanji sent off!!

 

[Bluearmy]

This is another ridiculous quirk of the current interpretation.

He was behind the ball when it was played but, before that, he gained an advantage by being in an offside position. It was like a goal that Jesus scored against West Ham on the opening day a few seasons ago. He was stood well offside, didn't move but was just behind the ball when Sterling crossed to him.

Let's look at a more extreme example. One team has a corner and their opponents defending it leave their striker stood at the other end of the field and a pacy winger just inside their own half. They clear the corner up to the winger, who's onside as he's in his own half. He then legs it downfield and as soon as he's a foot in front of his striker teammate, he crosses to him while the opposition are still getting back and he scores.

Under the current law, the striker is onside and the goal stands, even though the striker has never at any point had two opposition players between him and the goal line. That's nonsensical.

Its not a quirk of the current law/interpretation. Its always been the law…. Well for the last 40 odd years ive been playing at least

 

[Bluearmy]

No, a foul is given to the attacker even though he's in an offside position but it's the law.
Akanji knew this which is why he didn't just wipe him out.
The offside law (law 11) is objective not subjective.
All this bollocks about subjective and grey areas is a red herring used to try and deflect from the simple fact that Attwell failed to implement the laws of the game.

Agreed. The fact Dermott and some other ex refs think its subjective is very scary….

 

[applejuice]

The worst thing about today’s farcical officiating for me is not that we were robbed of point(s) or that we lost to United (though, both are bad, mind).

The worst aspect—and perhaps a “happy consequence” for those behind the incredibly suspect officiating in our matches as of late—is that it makes me feel like a dupe.

You start questioning whether you are an idiot for continually wanting to watch us play whilst trying to ignore the increasing evidence that the league are trying to manipulate outcomes to ensure they have a different winner this season.

And before the usual suspects come out and accuse me of proclaiming a complete and total conspiracy against City, I don’t think it is specifically against us because we are Manchester City. Nor do I think the manipulation is present in every match or every decision. But I do think it is becoming increasingly apparent that the league want to “protect the product” and they don’t want a club—in this case us—dominating for long periods of time in the modern iteration of the competition and so they’ll do what they can to attempt to prevent that (with varying degrees of success).

And only an idiot watches the WWE thinking it is a real wrestling match, right?

It’s begun to really hamper my enjoyment of watching us and football in general.

I have always thought that the premier league was no different to other football competitions in the world and that match fixing or manipulation has been present for decades. But it was more one-off and to do with gambling and individual dodgy situations. It wasn’t systematic.

But it is genuinely starting to feel more designed and comprehensive as the seasons have gone on. Not just against us, but with other clubs, as well, to aid the league’s cash cow clubs (PL and FA executives have even come out and said it is not good for the brand to have the most globally followed clubs not winning things).

I may be in the minority, and I know I am opening myself to all manner of abuse with this thread, but I felt it was worth sharing, as maybe others are feeling the same way.

Football has absolutely changed since I was a lad, don’t think there is good faith argument to the contrary. But the last few years it has seemingly gone the way of pure entertainment rather than at least sport for entertainment.

The drama is now the main product; the football is secondary. Broadcasters, social media, and certain clubs have ensured that transition in my opinion. I am actually starting to think a few of them see the actual football games as a bit of a hinderance to the product at this point. The drama is more profitable than the goals.

Maybe I am wrong and have just become jaded. Perhaps I just need to take a break for awhile, and regain hopefully the love I have lost.

Am I completely by myself here?

You are not alone.

I have some East Asian relatives from my wife side. They loves PL and Manchester Derby is a highlight for them. The midday broadcast time was also very convenient for them. So they all watched this game. They were in a totally shock after watching this game and questioned the genuinely of PL.

Manchester derby is a symbol of PL and to some extend, a symbol of UK in their views. It is that bad...

 

[Blueboy73]

Agreed. The fact Dermott and other ex refs think its subjective is scary….

The question is do they think it's subjective or do they know dawn well it isn't and are merely trying to gaslight everyone to try and protect their mates reputations and their place on the PGMOL gravy train?

 

[Bluearmy]

The question is do they think it's subjective or do they know dawn well it isn't and are merely trying to gaslight everyone to try and protect their mates reputations and their place on the PGMOL gravy train?

All of the above, depending who the decision is in favour of

 

[Blueboy73]

All of the above, depending who the decision is in favour of

Scary isn't it.
If they really do think it's subjective they're not credible, just plain incompetent.
If they're protecting their mates and their own place on the PGMOL gravy train, they're just plain corrupt.

 

[Bluearmy]

Scary isn't it.
If they really do think it's subjective they're not credible, just plain incompetent.
If they're protecting their mates and their own place on the PGMOL gravy train, they're just plain corrupt.

With whats gone on in the last 48 hours i’ve been thinking back about the worst decisions we’ve seen down the years in England. I came up with these 3. All at the same ground. All for the same team. All Years apart. Its a concerted effort over a prolonged period. Its the only reasonable explanation…..

 

[Blueboy73]

With whats gone on in the last 48 hours i’ve been thinking back about the worst decisions we’ve seen down the years in England. I came up with these 3. All at the same ground. All for the same team. All Years apart. Its a concerted effort over a prolonged period. Its the only reasonable explanation…..

Remember that phantom goal, Pedro Mendes for Spurs.
There's plenty of others, Rileys shitshow v Arsenal in 2004, Wilkie penalty v us in 96, Arsenal had one disallowed this season which they admitted was a mistake once the dust had died down. That's just the tip of the iceberg off the top of my head.

 

[Bluearmy]

Remember that phantom goal, Pedro Mendes for Spurs.
There's plenty of others, Rileys shitshow v Arsenal in 2004, Wilkie penalty v us in 96, Arsenal had one disallowed this season which they admitted was a mistake once the dust had died down. That's just the tip of the iceberg.

That's the roy carroll pic in my original post!!

Yes i know there are loads more. Nani handballed one and clattenberg gave the goal from memory. I just limited it to a personal top 3….

As you say there’s loads. All for the same team, all at the same ground, decision after decision….. it stinks

 

[bert38]

So no more going to VAR for red card reviews if the ref makes a decision not to give one-it’s subjective after all.

 

[Bill Walker]

You are not alone.

I have some East Asian relatives from my wife side. They loves PL and Manchester Derby is a highlight for them. The midday broadcast time was also very convenient for them. So they all watched this game. They were in a totally shock after watching this game and questioned the genuinely of PL.

Manchester derby is a symbol of PL and to some extend, a symbol of UK in their views. It is that bad...

Indeed, the PL is touted as "the best in the world" but the standard of refs is abysmal.
Why is this so ?
I'vr never accepted the corrupt argument but after the derby I'm beginning to believe it. It's the only explanation for that "goal".

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

Remember that phantom goal, Pedro Mendes for Spurs.
There's plenty of others, Rileys shitshow v Arsenal in 2004, Wilkie penalty v us in 96, Arsenal had one disallowed this season which they admitted was a mistake once the dust had died down. That's just the tip of the iceberg off the top of my head.

Don't forget being awarded a penalty after the final whistle had been blown