Why is it so hard to have a governing body with an ounce of common sense, UEFA just seem bereft of it every time it seems like they’ll do the right thing. Are your matches blighted by neo-nazi’s forming swastika shapes on the terrace? Here, have a fine of $3 and don’t do it again. Do your fans steal a visiting fans scooter, carry it into the ground, set it on fire and throw it on the pitch during a game? Never happened. English based player sent off for a foul he didn’t commit? The Red card stands!
Darren Fletcher’s red card, alongside Eric Abidals, was a travesty. The referee got it wrong, it was obviously a mistake so United must have been hoping that UEFA’s appeal’s panel would realise that the ludicrous and frankly absurd rule that you can’t appeal a red card unless it’s mistaken identity and it would see the opportunity for them to hold their hands up, say the referee got it wrong, and rescind it.
Of course they didn’t. Now I’m not buying into the conspiracy theories that are currently doing the rounds in the British press, though UEFA’s contempt for the Premiership is hard to ignore currently due Platini’s consistent anti-Premiership rhetoric, but honestly, they make you want to pull your hair out. Fletcher’s challenge was a wonderfully timed last ditch tackle that saved a goalscoring opportunity, or so he thought. Unfortunately referee Rosetti deemed it a foul and that’s the end of it.
To be blunt, it shows that the idiots in power at the top of UEFA have now entrenched so far into their bunkers that they can no longer see common sense. What is so wrong with doing the right thing? It’s the same for the Abidal sending off, an incorrect decision that all the world can see in the cold light of day but they will not budge on the matter. An incorrect decision, regardless of televisual evidence stands, cast in stone. A chance for UEFA to finally offer those who criticise the bloated, out of touch and idiotic board an opportunity to say well done UEFA, a common sense victory for football.
Yet, they once again sail off into the sunset, the winds of ignorance speeding them onward to the next calamity. How can these decisions support the referee’s who have to make these decisions, no-one is infallible, no-one is beyond making a mistake. By digging themselves into such a position, they make themselves ripe for ridicule, with the next calamitous decision just around the corner. Like holding the Champions League final at a ground with a history of violence from both the fans and the police in a country racked with hooliganism at every match.
I’ve been to the Stadio Olympico twice, both times were eye opening experiences for me as a fan. Both times left me very nervous about my well being in and around the stadium and they were for a Serie A game. Would I go there as an opposing fan? Not on your life!Hopefully, the British police will be there in large numbers to keep an eye out for rogue groups of Roma fans with their speciality of sticking a pen knife in you as you walk past them. And again, and again and so it continues.
It’s so disappointing to have an official body that won’t do the right thing whenever they seem to given a perfect opportunity time and again. It’s a real shame that Fletcher and Abidal will both miss the biggest games of their careers so far due to stubbornness beyond all reason.
Paul,
I think they need to stand by the referees if it is debatable. There are arguments for Fletcher’s tackle being a red card. There is a shadow of doubt, even if you believe it miniscule.
Correct me if I’m wrong… they weren’t going to even hear the appeal unless the ref sent off the wrong player, right? Looks like they still aren’t even if forced to
The only bad call was Abidals. Fletchers is a red card by the rules of the game. Graham Poll did a column about it for the Daily Mail I believe. It explains why and how by the “laws of the game” the ref had no choice.
Yeah, you’re probably right. Unfortunately it’s getting harder and harder to explain to my non-soccer friends what is and what isn’t a foul because some refs will let that go.
I agree. I don’t want video replay added to the game, by any means. Referee decisions, regardless of their accuracy, are part of the game. Bad calls are part of sport, in my opinion, and teams/players just have to deal with it. However, while I think that all calls for the current game should stand, further punishment beyond that game should be negotiable. Assuming neither Fletcher or Abidal deserved a red card, then their suspension should be overturned.
If someone was caught with what an officer believed was drugs, the officer has every right to arrest that person and take them to jail. However, if it is found after that that the drugs were not drugs, prescribed, etc, then the officer has an obligation to release that individual.
Sending off? Fine. No problem
Punishment and suspension after the fact? Ridiculous.
Football is big business nowadays and these guys are not as adept at being fair as they are at making big money.
To these people rules and common sense will always play second fiddle to money making. I mean lets face it with the amount of money in modern day football a little shuffle here and there can make a huge difference.
Nobody likes conspiracy theories but when so much money is involved conspiracy theories quickly become a reality. Just ask Chelsea.
You cannot be seriously continuing to claim Fletcher’s slight touch on the ball absolves him of leg-wrapping a full-flight Fabregas who still had a play on said ball, are you? I’m with you here that if Fletcher had cleared the ball out of the reach of Cesc, then that is not a foul. But he didn’t. The ball was still right there when Fletcher took Cesc down.
I think UEFA have shown common sense here. If their rules say no appeals, then no appeals.
I would argue that stunts such as allowing Liverpool into the Champs League, after they finished outside of the top-4, showed a lack of common sense. That was just appeasing the big boys, just as it would be if they reconsidered Fletcher’s red card.
It’s just a flipping football game. It’s not like Fletcher will be missing the only final of his life.
Jamie and Tyduffy – you’re either insane or you are United-haters. Replays don’t lie, and the rules are right there in black and white – please explain exactly how you can make a case for the Fletcher tackle as a foul…
Fletcher was next to Fabrigas, not behind him, he stuck the ball cleanly well before any contact was made with the opposing player, his boot was nowhere near the face of his opponent, and his cleats were facing away. Fabregas ran into his leg well after the ball was cleared, and Flecther’s leg was moving away from him at the time.
I find it interesting that you quote Graham Poll’s opinion – could you find anyone less credible? What was Arsene Wenger’s expert opinion?
Yep: Unless Fabregas has a 7-foot long leg growing out of his armpit, the ball was not “right there” for him to play.
Second, Fletcher has just as much right to play the ball as Fabregas does. He played the ball before Fabregas crashed into HIM. Thats what we call a clean tackle, and a great one at that.
Same old story – Arsenal would be a great football team if their opponents would stop TACKLING them! How dare they?