i have never believed that ref's are actually bought - ive believed they have favourites or are 'swayed' by certain personalities in football - but not actually told, from a institution down, to fix specific games.
but the 1st half was slow and pretty shit. The commentators on my feed throughout the 1st half said the game had a feel to it that one moment of quality or one decision could seal it or at the least make it come to life. The you get that penalty and the game is excellent to watch for a neutral.
Think of the new TV deals, the insanity money and the need to get global dominance on people screens in Asia/Africa. you have to have drama, you absolutely have to, otherwise they all switch off.
I still dont think that Clattenberg is paid/bribed but i do think there was a hush hush meeting at the beginning of this season that basically ran the lines of 'make some very risky decisions, you'll be immune'