Absolutely abysmal behavior by the team and the management after the VAR decision. Mitrovic physically assaulted the referee and then continued to verbally harass and chase him. I hope he suffers more than just the Red card. FIFA, UEFA, FA, etc. need to stamp out the ridiculous harassment of referees after decisions, before something serious happens. Rant over /r
They were lucky it was only 3. Boa Morte and a load of other coaching staff all over the pitch with no business being there.
This crowding the ref thing has been going on for years - will only lead to something bad. Of all the rules that the FA tinkers with, they just don’t protect the officials. What happened to 10 yards for dissent? I’d introduce a rule that only the captain can speak to the ref. Enforce it. The first couple of weeks of the season would be interesting but until players show some respect, games will always be influenced.
If the ruling body want to set an example and start the ball rolling on protecting officials this is the golden opportunity to make a start..
The thing is though, why do they need an excuse to make a start? They, like us, see blatant cheating week in week out and yet their only sanction is to tell referees to issue a yellow card for diving. Most of the time the ref can't be sure so doesn't give it. When they do... a yellow card. Players don't give a toss. If they did they'd soon stop ripping their shirt off every time they score a goal. The answer is simple. Retrospective analysis of footage from every game and a ten match ban for every instance of cheating/diving. The governing bodies of football are not fit to govern.
To be fair, I thought the ref set the example. Fulham know the rules & it’s cost them a semi final place. They’ll not be doing that again..
There is no reasonable explanation as to why dissent of any kind should not result in a yellow / red card.
According to their manager what incensed him most and which led to the melt down by all, was the fact, Fulham had been refused two VAR appeals request, which the officials ignored , prior to Uniteds request which was then granted. Still doesn't excuse their behaviour but is an insight to what sparked the verbal physical abuse situation.
I saw one of them, and I'd be cheesed off too. Definitely looked like Maguire had pulled down one of their lads. Howard Webb has apologised to Wolves alone 4 times this season due to VAR, multiple other times to other clubs. It really is quite embarrassing considering the amount of angles and footage they have to make a decision. As you say though, no excuses for that behaviour. Although if Mitrovic does get a long ban, no doubt people will question why Fernandes got absolutely nothing happen against him for also pushing the referee last week
I've talked about this for years. I think the refs have just become too accustomed to accepting it. Like a lot of football the issue is the rule isn't followed. You can be booked dissent. So when they crowd the ref book the lot of them. If they continue send them off. Send them off for foul and abusive language and intimidating behaviour. Sadly refs aren't going to be given respect, they are going to have to demand it. On the pitch they have the power and need to use it. Grass roots doesn't stand a chance of changing unless it's led from the top. Putting aside my fitness issues, if I refereed a Premier league game, I would lay decent odds it wouldn't finish due to red cards. But if every ref did that things would change very quickly.
Are you guys aware that there's a "sin bin" rule in place in both grassroots and junior football that mandates a 10 minute sin-bin where a yellow card is issued for dissent? It's really effective in youth football (I dunno about Sunday league, I rarely see any) and I can't see any justification for not adopting it at the professional level
Oops typo! Meant doesn’t my point being that it just needs to be stamped out completely. It’s such a terrible example to young players.
Was Fergie was sat in the stands yesterday? He must have been delighted. He encouraged his squad to harass the referee whenever big decisions went against them. Looks like it paid dividends for Manchester Utd at Old Trafford yesterday.
