KEVIN FRIEND was binned off the Stoke v Spurs game for his allegiances to Leicester and, while it's nice to know someone's looking out for us, aren't these guys meant to be professionals?
There may be a lot at stake but I would like to think that Mr Friend could keep Leicester far enough from his thoughts to officiate a fair game in which they aren't even involved.
Especially when the Foxes are not even his first team. He is just based in Leicester - he has been to watch them in a personal capacity but surely if one of our leading officials is passionate enough about football to go and watch it in his spare time, that can only be a good thing.
It all stinks of the powers that be not putting their money where their mouth is. Players are forever told show the man in the middle more respect.
Managers are continually punished for questioning referees’ decisions and we are all assured that the use of technology is not necessary in every aspect of the game.
Well show some faith then! These guys put themselves in the firing line week in week out for a fraction of the wages of those around them. Surely they deserve some backing from their employers.
What the referees’ association and the Premier League are effectively saying by replacing Friend with Neil Swarbrick for Monday’s trip to Stoke is that referees are susceptible to favouritism and that they can let their emotions cloud their judgment.
Needless to say, most managers disagreed with the decision to ditch Friend from the Britannia.
Stoke boss Mark Hughes said: “The one thing we all have to be comfortable about is the integrity of the referees, irrespective of who they support.
“That group of professional referees, their integrity should be such that people should never question, even if they have allegiances to other teams, that is where they should be at.”
Arsenal chief Arsene Wenger agreed with Hughes. He said: “It questions the integrity of the referee and sets a dangerous precedent.
“The solution is you don't look where they come from and who they support, you just pick the best referees.”
Even Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino laid aside our Arsenal rivalry to echo Wenger’s words over a what is beginning to look like a bizarre decision.
Poch said: “We never complain and I want to say we trust in all the referees but I think we need to trust. In some point I agree with Arsene. It is important to keep the integrity of the referee and always back the referee.
“They are human and can make mistakes like us but it is important next time to behave naturally and to show the referee the trust and respect.”
Only last week, Michael Oliver - a big Newcastle fan - took charge of Crystal Palace’s 1-0 win over Norwich. The result increased the chances of Toon catching the Canaries in the battle for survival yet not an eyelid was batted. Oliver even denied Norwich a decent penalty shout.
A season as unpredictable as this needs to be judged on the football but as the campaign hurtles towards its conclusion it would be nice if the decision makers at the top could take more care not to pour controversy over what could yet be a thrilling climax.
It would be interesting to hear Mr Friend's view on the matter.
It would be interesting to hear Mr Friend's view on the matter.
No comments:
Post a Comment