Here's Jeff Winter's take on it from his website
PISSING AGAINST THE WIND
Jeff Winter; 28 Apr 2009
I am sure that I have used this title before but what the hell. I can’t think of a better way to describe my feelings.
We live in a nasty world. People are not happy and the lack of money/jobs has put many people on edge.
A policeman friend of mine says that a long hot summer is not what is required as many expect violence as people lash out as their dissatisfaction with life festers and comes to a boil.
Whatever the reason, we are all angry and less tolerant of anything.
When it comes to football, we all know better. We can all pick better teams and know better tactics than the professionals and obviously, when it comes to referees, everybody knows how easy a job it is to do, and could do a darn site better than the “wankers” who control our matches at present.
Every week, I receive scores of emails. They are mostly on the same subject, just the names of the teams and senders change depending on which team has lost out due to a perceived dubious decision.
Much of these comments are fuelled by bias and belief of what the so-called experts have fed them with their factually incorrect comments.
However, there are many occasions, perhaps far too many occasions, when the officials have got it wrong. Human error is what it’s called - at least I hope that is what it is.
If I were to read and believe everything I see, it is part of a much bigger conspiracy against anyone outside the “Top Four”.
I call them that because despite being labelled the “Big Four”, they are actually, without doubt, the top four because they are a class apart from the rest.
Everton and Villa are creeping towards them and Spurs and Manchester City might have the finances to throw down a challenge eventually but the rest of the sides in the Premier League are purely there to make up the numbers.
Refereeing decisions - good, bad or indifferent - are not going to change what is a very predictable League.v Sure, the odd result here and there gives everybody hope but did anyone seriously think that the “Big Four” would not be the “Top Four”?
Following Saturday’s Manchester United v Spurs game I quickly received my first two emails:
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From: Bad decisions DO NOT even themselves out over the season
So much for Howard Webb supposedly being the best Premiership official. He proved today that he is firmly in Man Utd's pocket.
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From: David
Hi Jeff
How can one corrupt referee be allowed to change the course of the Premiership and will Howard Webb get a medal as part of Man Utd's title winning team?
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Comments such as these are now common place. Indeed, this article will encourage more to spout their bile as they look for reasons why their own side did not win.
When a referee makes an honest decision and someone does not like it, then the answer is obvious; he is corrupt, bent, useless etc.
Grow up!! You sound as pathetic as a spoilt kid who has not got his way!!
Howard Webb has cost Liverpool the title, has he? To be honest, I don’t remember him playing up front for Liverpool in the home games when they failed to beat vastly inferior opposition. I also don't recall him starring in the defence that let Arsenal run riot last Tuesday night.
No, the ref has been and always will be the easy target.
Before everyone rants on and lists the 101 decisions that have gone against their side this season, think on and recall the ones that have gone your way as well.
Perhaps they do not even themselves out perfectly but then list the number of cock-ups that your side has made in defence and the number of goal chances that have been missed.
Are all the players who make these mistakes corrupt, or are they just useless?
Many state that there is too much money at stake and that video technology is the answer to everything. Well, if players did not cheat and dive at any given opportunity and if referees were perfect, then perhaps we would not need to bring that subject up after every decision.
It ain’t going happen because the authorities have said it won’t.
The clubs could not afford it anyway and it would kill the flow of the game. Most importantly, however, is that it would cost too many ex-players their lucrative jobs as 'experts'!!
The latest to emerge is Craig Burley, a poor man's Andy Gray, who spouted his bile whilst doing co-commentary with Jon Champion at the Manchester United v Spurs game.
It was "the penalty incident that changed the game" he said. Do me a favour, Manchester United were running them ragged and it was only a matter of time before Spurs capitulated and United ran away with it!!
According to Burley though, it was not a difficult decision - anyone could see it!!
Well, excuse me, but when you have watched an incident on numerous occasions from the benefit of an elevated position, and when you have slowed it down, then perhaps things might appear clearer. Ah ha, video technology - that would have sorted it!!
But was it a penalty or not? In my opinion - which is not borne out of bias for any club involved in the title race (actually I would have liked to see Liverpool win it!) - is that it was a penalty.
Howard Webb would see the keeper - the erratic Gomes by the way - throw himself at the feet of Carrick and then up-end him. Does anyone disagree that the keeper actually brought him down? Carrick did not dive, he was clattered.
Yet thanks to slow motion video technology, we can now see that the keeper actually got a touch on the ball which makes it alright. Or does it?
I thought that we had been educated by the Law makers - a point that Burley and Co. constantly forget - that if you take the ball and the man, it is reckless and therefore a foul.
It most certainly is when an outfield player does it and it is definitely the case if the incident occurs outside the penalty area.
So are there different rules for keepers and when offences occur inside the box? Don’t answer that one.
Whatever it was, the decision does not make the referee corrupt or a United supporter, although that is the easy option for the idiots who neither know nor care about the game, just the result.
Howard Webb is an excellent referee who, whilst not being perfect, has gained universal respect for how he controls games.
He has made and will make mistakes - all refs do (even Collina) - but he gets the majority of high profile games, both domestically and abroad, because of his ability.
Of the ten games between the "Big/Top Four" this season, he has taken charge of six of them, plus a whole host of other big derby games. This week he is officiating a UEFA Cup semi-final as well.
I know that he wanted to go on TV after Saturday’s game to put his point of view across but the authorities would not allow him to do so. This in itself tells a story.
Don’t get me wrong, if you have read my articles this season you will know that I feel very strongly that all is not well in the refereeing world. This is largely due to weak leadership and the lack of support from the authorities.
There are also some refs who, in my opinion, are not good enough to be doing the big games but as in all other aspects of life, their faces fit.
Some do seem to bottle it when it comes to making a decision against one of the big boys - more about Arsenal v Boro in my column for the Evening Gazette on Friday!!
However, Howard Webb most certainly does not fit into that category. He is an excellent official (in fact he is our best). He is an honest man who has worked very hard to get to where he is.
Perhaps the dickheads who describe people who do a job that they would never have the balls or ability to do themselves should think of that before throwing infantile comments around.
There you are, I am sure that my words will have changed many minds!! Or am I just pissing against the wind?
If you want to discuss any of my opinions get in touch via Jeff Winter's official website.
PISSING AGAINST THE WIND
