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Football 365
Referees don't have the easiest job, who would want to go out every week and have people scream bloody murder at you for 90 minutes, using words that you would never dare use in front of your grandmother.
But the men in black don't make it any easier on themselves when they continue to make error after error which are so blindingly obvious you wonder how they found their dressing room let alone made it onto the pitch.
After Mr Clattenburg's clangers on Saturday we have compiled a list of what we believe are the worst decisions of the season so far.
O'Donovan Flattens Doyle - Birmingham 2-2 Sunderland
Imagine being a goalkeeper and pulling off a great save which you believe has just helped your side to three points. Then imagine having a red-and-white striped shirt pin you to the ground as you see the opposition knock in the equaliser and have the referee do nothing about the lump preventing you from getting up. That is exactly what happened to Colin Doyle after Roy O'Donovan fell onto the Birmingham goalkeeper and then seemed to conveniently get up just as the ball crossed the line. Perhaps O'Donovan felt he was in a different sport and was hoping that referee Keith Stroud was going to get down and count to three before announcing him the new wrestling champion of Sunderland.
The Goal That Wasn't A Goal - Fulham 1-2 Middlesbrough
Every season there seems to be a few of these types of decision when the ball crosses the line, but it isn't given and everyone starts up the now dull discussion of whether we need goal-line technology. But how Andy D'Urso and Ian Gosling failed to notice that Mark Schwarzer had let David Healy's shot trickle across the line was bizarre to say the least. As Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez pointed out, the linesman was stood in line and had a clear view of the 'goal'. Even Keith Hackett had to concede that the officials had dropped the ball with this decision and as such Gosling was given a number of weeks off the Premier League circuit.
Malouda's Penalty - Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea
Although Liverpool have been on the positive end of some refereeing howlers it only seems fair to point out that they don't always have things their own way. Even Malouda seemed surprised when he went down in the penalty area and Rob Styles awarded what has to be the softest penalty in Premier League history. Perhaps Mr Styles thought that Steve Finnan had breathed too heavily on the French midfielder - surely that is the only explanation as Finnan never made any contact with Malouda.
Essien's Second Yellow, Yet No Red - Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea
It would be an understatement to say that Rob Styles did not have the best of games that day. And things didn't get any better when he seemingly showed Michael Essien a second yellow card yet did not follow it up with a red. After the game Styles explained that in fact he had booked John Terry, not Essien, despite frantic waving of the card in the Ghanain's face. Keith Hackett explained that it was just an administravtive error and that he had not just done a Graham Poll. As you can guess, Mr Styles was given the following week off to go away and think about what he had done.
Gardner Thinks He's The Goalkeeper - Aston Villa 2-1 Fulham
Football players can be a bit sneaky on the field, going down at the right time or intimidating the referee - all part and parcel of the game these days it seems. But surely the most under-handed tactic is to stop the ball from going in with the aid of an arm and hope the referee doesn't notice. Sometimes it works, as is the case with Craig Gardner against Fulham this season when he got in the way of Diomansy Kamara's shot inside the penalty area. Steve Bennett failed to spot that Gardner had stopped the ball without using his legs, chest or face. Apparently he believes the youngster has the ability to stop the ball just with the power of thought.
John Obi Mikel's Sending Off - Manchester United 2-0 Chelsea
There is definitely something about massive refereeing mistakes and big games. From the Merseyside derby to the clash of the two previous title holders and more mistakes. Mike Dean's decision to send off John Obi Mikel in the game at Old Trafford earlier this season was certainly very harsh. The Blues midfielder was dismissed after Mr Dean felt that Mikel went in with his studs raised in a challenge with Patrice Evra. This looked an even stranger decision when later in the game Joe Cole absolutely clattered into Cristiano Ronaldo and walked away with just a booking.
John Terry Gets A Little Grabby - Manchester United 2-Chelsea
When a referee reaches into his top pocket to reveal a red card many a player wishes they could just make that red square disappear, which is exactly what John Terry tried to do when attempting to prevent Mikel from being dismissed. How Terry thought that taking the card off Mike Dean would prevent the referee from carrying out the decision is anyone's guess. But more oddly was Mr Dean's choice not to even try and book the England captain for his very hands-on approach. Surely trying to actually steal a card from an official warrants some kind of punishment, and not just one handed out by the FA days later to the club for not being able to control their players... although it was about time they got punished for that.
Saha's Penalty - Manchester United 2-0 Chelsea
To complete the hat-trick of dire decisions made by Mike Dean in that game you only have to look at the penalty late on which settled the game. Despite Tal Ben-Haim being a bit of a clown when it comes to defending this season he will certainly feel very hard done after brushing Louis Saha's sock. The French forward certainly felt that it was enough for him to go down and win his side a penalty. Many United fans would point to the fact that Dean missed a stonewall penalty earlier, but that doesn't mean he has to make up for it by rewarding the first man in a red shirt to fall over.
Sidwell Is A Bit Handy - Bolton 0-1 Chelsea
Despite not having played a big part in Chelsea's season so far Steve Sidewell certainly helped out Avram Grant to his first league win since taking over the Stamford Bridge hotseat, but it wasn't with his footballing skills. As the Blues and the Trotters battled it out a cross into the Chelsea penalty area was seemingly deflected away from danger by Sidwell with his arm. Despite Alan Wiley being in a good position to see the incident the pint-sized official obviously felt that an arm making direct contact with the ball didn't quite warrant a penalty. A point against Chelsea may have gone some way to keeping Sammy Lee in a job but as it was, Bolton lost and Lee got the sack. How do these referees sleep at night?
Joleon Lescott's Penalty - Everton 1-2 Liverpool
Down to nine men and a goal behind with only minutes left, Lescott found himself being assualted by Jamie Carragher inside the penalty area. Perhaps Carragher was blinded by jealousy for a moment as he wrestled with the man that had recently strolled into the national side, a side he had seemingly been excluded from for so long. Despite Carragher looking guilty as sin and 40,000 other people notcing the misdemeanour, referee Mark Clattenburg seemed oblivious to the incident as he happily waved play on. It will be something that Everton fans have already etched into their minds, and like elephants they will never forget that decision.
The Flying Dutchman - Everton 1-2 Liverpool
Whilst the previous offence was the one that cost Everton a point, many Toffees would argue that Dirk Kuyt should not have even been on the field to slot home the winning penalty. After losing the ball inside his own half, Kuyt seemingly saw red and decided that now was the best time to audition for the next Jackie Chan film, using Phil Neville as his unwitting partner. Whilst we have all felt like kicking Neville after watching some of his England performances, Kuyt's flying two-footed challenge may have been a tad over the top. How Kuyt only escaped with a yellow card is astounding and it's no wonder that Mr Clattenburg was given a weekend off.
Chris Rivers
Referees don't have the easiest job, who would want to go out every week and have people scream bloody murder at you for 90 minutes, using words that you would never dare use in front of your grandmother.
But the men in black don't make it any easier on themselves when they continue to make error after error which are so blindingly obvious you wonder how they found their dressing room let alone made it onto the pitch.
After Mr Clattenburg's clangers on Saturday we have compiled a list of what we believe are the worst decisions of the season so far.
O'Donovan Flattens Doyle - Birmingham 2-2 Sunderland
Imagine being a goalkeeper and pulling off a great save which you believe has just helped your side to three points. Then imagine having a red-and-white striped shirt pin you to the ground as you see the opposition knock in the equaliser and have the referee do nothing about the lump preventing you from getting up. That is exactly what happened to Colin Doyle after Roy O'Donovan fell onto the Birmingham goalkeeper and then seemed to conveniently get up just as the ball crossed the line. Perhaps O'Donovan felt he was in a different sport and was hoping that referee Keith Stroud was going to get down and count to three before announcing him the new wrestling champion of Sunderland.
The Goal That Wasn't A Goal - Fulham 1-2 Middlesbrough
Every season there seems to be a few of these types of decision when the ball crosses the line, but it isn't given and everyone starts up the now dull discussion of whether we need goal-line technology. But how Andy D'Urso and Ian Gosling failed to notice that Mark Schwarzer had let David Healy's shot trickle across the line was bizarre to say the least. As Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez pointed out, the linesman was stood in line and had a clear view of the 'goal'. Even Keith Hackett had to concede that the officials had dropped the ball with this decision and as such Gosling was given a number of weeks off the Premier League circuit.
Malouda's Penalty - Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea
Although Liverpool have been on the positive end of some refereeing howlers it only seems fair to point out that they don't always have things their own way. Even Malouda seemed surprised when he went down in the penalty area and Rob Styles awarded what has to be the softest penalty in Premier League history. Perhaps Mr Styles thought that Steve Finnan had breathed too heavily on the French midfielder - surely that is the only explanation as Finnan never made any contact with Malouda.
Essien's Second Yellow, Yet No Red - Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea
It would be an understatement to say that Rob Styles did not have the best of games that day. And things didn't get any better when he seemingly showed Michael Essien a second yellow card yet did not follow it up with a red. After the game Styles explained that in fact he had booked John Terry, not Essien, despite frantic waving of the card in the Ghanain's face. Keith Hackett explained that it was just an administravtive error and that he had not just done a Graham Poll. As you can guess, Mr Styles was given the following week off to go away and think about what he had done.
Gardner Thinks He's The Goalkeeper - Aston Villa 2-1 Fulham
Football players can be a bit sneaky on the field, going down at the right time or intimidating the referee - all part and parcel of the game these days it seems. But surely the most under-handed tactic is to stop the ball from going in with the aid of an arm and hope the referee doesn't notice. Sometimes it works, as is the case with Craig Gardner against Fulham this season when he got in the way of Diomansy Kamara's shot inside the penalty area. Steve Bennett failed to spot that Gardner had stopped the ball without using his legs, chest or face. Apparently he believes the youngster has the ability to stop the ball just with the power of thought.
John Obi Mikel's Sending Off - Manchester United 2-0 Chelsea
There is definitely something about massive refereeing mistakes and big games. From the Merseyside derby to the clash of the two previous title holders and more mistakes. Mike Dean's decision to send off John Obi Mikel in the game at Old Trafford earlier this season was certainly very harsh. The Blues midfielder was dismissed after Mr Dean felt that Mikel went in with his studs raised in a challenge with Patrice Evra. This looked an even stranger decision when later in the game Joe Cole absolutely clattered into Cristiano Ronaldo and walked away with just a booking.
John Terry Gets A Little Grabby - Manchester United 2-Chelsea
When a referee reaches into his top pocket to reveal a red card many a player wishes they could just make that red square disappear, which is exactly what John Terry tried to do when attempting to prevent Mikel from being dismissed. How Terry thought that taking the card off Mike Dean would prevent the referee from carrying out the decision is anyone's guess. But more oddly was Mr Dean's choice not to even try and book the England captain for his very hands-on approach. Surely trying to actually steal a card from an official warrants some kind of punishment, and not just one handed out by the FA days later to the club for not being able to control their players... although it was about time they got punished for that.
Saha's Penalty - Manchester United 2-0 Chelsea
To complete the hat-trick of dire decisions made by Mike Dean in that game you only have to look at the penalty late on which settled the game. Despite Tal Ben-Haim being a bit of a clown when it comes to defending this season he will certainly feel very hard done after brushing Louis Saha's sock. The French forward certainly felt that it was enough for him to go down and win his side a penalty. Many United fans would point to the fact that Dean missed a stonewall penalty earlier, but that doesn't mean he has to make up for it by rewarding the first man in a red shirt to fall over.
Sidwell Is A Bit Handy - Bolton 0-1 Chelsea
Despite not having played a big part in Chelsea's season so far Steve Sidewell certainly helped out Avram Grant to his first league win since taking over the Stamford Bridge hotseat, but it wasn't with his footballing skills. As the Blues and the Trotters battled it out a cross into the Chelsea penalty area was seemingly deflected away from danger by Sidwell with his arm. Despite Alan Wiley being in a good position to see the incident the pint-sized official obviously felt that an arm making direct contact with the ball didn't quite warrant a penalty. A point against Chelsea may have gone some way to keeping Sammy Lee in a job but as it was, Bolton lost and Lee got the sack. How do these referees sleep at night?
Joleon Lescott's Penalty - Everton 1-2 Liverpool
Down to nine men and a goal behind with only minutes left, Lescott found himself being assualted by Jamie Carragher inside the penalty area. Perhaps Carragher was blinded by jealousy for a moment as he wrestled with the man that had recently strolled into the national side, a side he had seemingly been excluded from for so long. Despite Carragher looking guilty as sin and 40,000 other people notcing the misdemeanour, referee Mark Clattenburg seemed oblivious to the incident as he happily waved play on. It will be something that Everton fans have already etched into their minds, and like elephants they will never forget that decision.
The Flying Dutchman - Everton 1-2 Liverpool
Whilst the previous offence was the one that cost Everton a point, many Toffees would argue that Dirk Kuyt should not have even been on the field to slot home the winning penalty. After losing the ball inside his own half, Kuyt seemingly saw red and decided that now was the best time to audition for the next Jackie Chan film, using Phil Neville as his unwitting partner. Whilst we have all felt like kicking Neville after watching some of his England performances, Kuyt's flying two-footed challenge may have been a tad over the top. How Kuyt only escaped with a yellow card is astounding and it's no wonder that Mr Clattenburg was given a weekend off.
Chris Rivers
cotr he plays for utd they get all GOOD decisions normally unless its bennett whose the only one to stand up to fergie
