Mark Clattenburg

[Father Paul]

But lets say a pass is played from 30-40 yards away, even if the lino is level with the last man how can he possibly be looking to see when the ball precisely leaves the passers foot and at the same time judge the precise time an attacker makes a clever run to beat the trap? It's physically impossible because players can be a cm onside or offside in a fraction of a second.

The rest of your post I agree with, and this was my point way back, all us football fans have threads like these. I thought what Vardy did at Arsenal yesterday should have got him booked as he clearly hung his left leg into Monreal to buy the pen, but then Drinkwater should have been sent off for a studs up lunge. Poor decisions that went both ways.

The deliberate handball thing is misleading because, as I understand it, it doesn't mean a player has to make a deliberate attempt to play the ball with his hand, it means he has to make a deliberate motion with his hands that interferes with the ball. I think Sterling jumps and flaps his elbow out and I do think the ball hits it. My take. I don't know if the lino had a side on view and whispered in Clattenbergs ear, but I agree if Clattenberg doesn't see it properly, and the lino doesn't then shouldn't be giving it. But we've all been on the end of these and I think the commentators said yesterday that City hadn't had a pen given against them for 13 months so you guys aren't doing too bad in that respect.

What do you mean by "he flaps his elbow out" total bollox!!!!

 

[silverback]

Had another look at the penalty again last evening and even with a couple of days to let the anger and disbelief dissipate I cannot understand Clattenburg. Then for him to pantomime what he saw with a rigid arm when every body could see the scenario as it played out in real time and numerous replays beggars belief. It was almost a replay of Dowd's farcical arm waving when he penalised Micah, both arms vertical when the "incident" featured Micah on the floor with only one arm raised. Has anybody got that clip again to refresh my memory?

 

[the originalkippaxman]

Still riles me that none of the media are pushing on how inept this guy is and why he spends half of his time waving his arms around that mean fuck all instead of getting on with the game. If the media don't do it then we as a club need to stand up for ourselves. Though on the flip side doesn't help when our Captain comes out and tells us to forget about it.

That for me is the worst thing VK has done. Don't tell us to forget about it do what all us fans want somebody to do and tell everyone you think that he is a corrupt **** and should be investigated.

 

[waspish]

With his misses being a Liverpool supporter and city taking there best player sterling he wanted make an example of him.

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

With his misses being a Liverpool supporter and city taking there best player sterling he wanted make an example of him.

It's certainly possible, although I thought he was divorced/separated. Pretty sure I read this as I was trying to find his address ... erm, I mean, research his past.

The fact Clattenburg once broke the strict rules that officials must travel to and from games together in order to attend an Ed Sheeran concert (although he also took the opportunity to further break the rules and call a PL manager during his journey) should surely discount him trustworthy enough to be regarded as the best in his field. In fact, being an Ed Sheeran fan should be enough.

Time for overseas referees across the major leagues for me.

 

[taleofbluehalves]

Next time Clattenberg is our ref we should set up a huge screen in the press room showing all his and his lines men's howlers on a loop.
No need to say much. The press can ask the questions. "What's that Manuel?"
MP: "All the decisions that have gone against us".
Press: "How do you mean?"
MP: "Let's review the Spurs games...."

 

[bluealf]

Next time Clattenberg is our ref we should set up a huge screen in the press room showing all his and his lines men's howlers on a loop.
No need to say much. The press can ask the questions. "What's that Manuel?"
MP: "All the decisions that have gone against us".
Press: "How do you mean?"
MP: "Let's review BOTH Spurs games...."

Edited for you

 

[taleofbluehalves]

Edited for you

Agreed!!

 

[blueinsa]

What do you mean by "he flaps his elbow out" total bollox!!!!

Its his one constant and it makes his opinion laughable and therefore, no point in even discussing this with him.

 

[richardtheref]

Just to advise you all on off sides & how they are now interpreted these days. I have never reffed at this level obviously but about 3 years ago was an assistant referee at EDS level games before I got injured.

All assistants at this level will know the current interpretation of off side. They will be advised by the referee in their pre match instructions "to wait & see, a correct late flag is better than a quick incorrect one". They will tend to only want a quick flag to stop any potential injury eg player through on goal and keeper coming out at speed. This is why there are so many late flags. The assistant will be checking that the ball has definitely gone through to the player in the off side position or that they are interfering with play.

As for the hand ball by Sterling. The laws of the game state that for a free kick to be given for hand ball the action must be deliberate & gain an advantage. Nowhere in the laws does it mention this "arm in an unnatural position" crap which gets banded about. This came from some UEFA directive which was supposed to be guide as to what was handball and what was not. Now taken as gospel by some.

However, I cannot see how any of the actions carried out by Sterling fall into the laws of the game, never mind the fact that it was probably outside the box in the 1st place.