You see, it's not just SANFL Umps that get it wrong

[johntheclaret]

STYLES APOLOGY TO BOLTON


By Martyn Ziegler, PA Chief Sports Reporter

Referee Rob Styles has contacted Bolton to apologise for mistakenly awarding a penalty to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
It is understood the match official has made private contact with the club to express regret at giving a spot-kick to United when defender Jlloyd Samuel fairly tackled Cristiano Ronaldo.
It is not the first time Styles has made an apology for a mistake on the field - last season he did so publicly to Liverpool for a penalty error when Steve Finnan challenged Florent Malouda.
United went on to win Saturday's match against Bolton 2-0 and even manager Sir Alex Ferguson was surprised about the award.
Bolton boss Gary Megson said after the match that he would not welcome a call from Styles. Megson said: "I don't want him to ring me up. I would have more respect from him if he just holds his hands up and says he was wrong."

Meanwhile, Styles has been handed another Premier League match next weekend despite the error.

Under the self-regulation policy of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the body responsible for top referees, officials who make mistakes often miss out on refereeing a Premier League match the following weekend. That has not happened in this case as referees' chief Keith Hackett has decided to back Styles, and he will be in charge for Tottenham v Hull on Sunday.

Sir Alex Ferguson has backed Styles' decision to apologise. He said: "Rob takes a lot of credit. It helps in terms of him showing some humility towards the game. That is the most important thing. It is good he has done it. It presents him in a different light. It shows he has character and is big enough to do it."

Well that's easy for Fergie to say. I wonder what his rsponse would be if the shoe had been on the other foot (Not that that's ever likely to happen)

[johntheclaret]

And just to rub salt in the wound

Thanks to The Sun

BLUNDER ref Rob Styles has been backed by his bosses over his Cristiano Ronaldo cock-up.
Far from being demoted from the Premier League, the Hampshire official has been put in charge of Tottenham v Hull on Sunday.

The decision has infuriated Bolton fans — and SunSport columnist Ian Wright. Styles got another big call wrong on Saturday when he gave a penalty for Jlloyd Samuel’s fair tackle on the Manchester United winger.

Bolton fans’ spokesman David Blackburn said: “I can’t believe he’s been given another Premier League game after that — it doesn’t make any sense. “All I can say to Spurs and Hull fans is good luck because you’ll need it with that bloke in charge. Sooner or later he’s going to cost someone their job.’’

Wrighty blasted the decision of the Professional Game Board to keep Styles in the top flight. He said: “Styles keeps making cock-ups. There is clearly something wrong with his decision-making. Refs should work on a system of three strikes in a year and they’re out. Styles should not be allowed to referee professionally again. Ever.”

Styles spent yesterday grovelling to Bolton boss Gary Megson and chairman Phil Gartside over the error, which helped United to a 2-0 win. Megson said: “We’ve had a lengthy chat. From my point of view it will remain private but he apologised. Everybody has accepted he made a mistake but we move on. Refs shouldn’t be demoted for a game because it serves absolutely no purpose.”

Red Devils boss Alex Ferguson applauded Styles’ apology. Fergie said: “Rob takes a lot of credit. It helps in terms of him showing some humility towards the game. It is good he has done it. It presents him in a different light. It shows he has character and is big enough to do it.”

[RoosterMarty]

I was glad when United scored the second as I was a little less embarrassed. I didn't even celebrate despite the fact I was beering with mates, it was a terrible decision.

The "goal that wasn't" in the Coke league was also extremely ordinary.

[johntheclaret]

Time for a complete overall of the system imo. here's what I would do:

1) Two Ref's. One in each half of the field. Clearly one ref can't keep up with the speed of play these day and with so many feigned fouls, making accurate decisions must be a nightmare.

2) Change the "offside rule" back to how it should be. You are either offside or you ain't. Non of this "is he interfereing with play" carp that goes on today. You can't allow officials to make their own interpretation of the rules. They are their to administer them and that's it.

3) Change the timing system to the same as Aussie Rules. The ref should not be in charge of deciding how much extra time he will or won't allow. We should have an independant time keeper, and the clock stops when the ball is not in play. It is outrageous to see the OPTA stats of EPL games showing actual play less than 40 mins for the entire game. And a rip off too. It would also cut out the time wasting crap that goes no, as there wouldn't be any point.

4) Every game should be reviewed by an independant panel. Ther are enough cameras at games these days. The panel should review the ref's performance, and issue retrospective punishment to players found feigning a foul or where the ref has missed a foul. They already use video evidence for card appeals. so why not taqke it a step further.

5) Use the same system that Aussie Rules use when taking free kicks. The player / wall stands on the mark where the fould was committed. This will cut out all the carp about how far the wall is. This archaic method of the ref just walking / pacing out 10 metres in a joke. I've seen walls less than 5 metres away from the ball.

6) Make greater use of technology. We need to cut out all of this placing the ball for a free kick and throw ins. The player encroaches down the line and when the ref sends him back, he simply takes a run up with the ball before throwing it in. The same for free kicks. They trow the ball 15 metres further forward, or move it to to a better spot. Take the bloody free from where the foul happened or allow the defending tema to stand on the spot. We could use a spotlight to pinpoint where the offence took place.

Just a few personal thoughts