‘Smug’ referees favouring the big boys?

The FA Cup raised a few issues yesterday and will no doubt raise some more today. One of the things that happened yesterday was the reaction to Chelsea‘s second goal in their 2-0 win at Coventry.

The goal was scored by Alex as Chelsea produced a very quick counter attack following an attacking Coventry throw into the Chelsea box.

Controversy

The controversy, such that there was, was around the fact that as the throw was taken, Chelsea were down to nine men as both Alex and Drogba were off the field following receiving treatment after they had collided with each other.

Referee Steve Bennett waved them back on to the field as soon as the throw was taken and the headed clearance landed in the area to which the two players had run into. Drogba started the move with a pass and Alex finished it with a clinical finish.

Coventry manager Chris Coleman said afterwards,

“For the second goal Chelsea had two players off the pitch for treatment. You are not supposed to wave them back on until you see where the ball is going to bounce and so they gain no advantage. You can’t wave them back on in a situation like that and who scores the goal – Alex.”

Coleman’s point is arguable. I would say that Bennett did nothing wrong and it was just unfortunate that the two players became so importantly involved so quickly. As I say, the case is arguable either way and is only a fairly minor controversy. It was not these comments that Chris Coleman made that I found particularly interesting however.

Coleman also said of Steve Bennett after the game,

“I was disappointed with him, as were my players – his attitude towards us and towards them. That is not why we lost but he was smug towards us, the way he was talking to my players, my senior players.”

Now, if one manager of a ‘lower’ club accuses a referee of behaving like this it could easily be explained purely as sour grapes. However, back at the end of January, West Brom boss Tony Mowbray said the following after a game against Manchester United,

“It’s almost as if refs want to be friends of the stars. We had Mr Styles at Chelsea. It was, ‘Frank (Lampard) this and Frank that’. They know some players’ names. I hope it doesn’t come across as paranoia. I find myself sometimes feeling, when we play the likes of Peterborough (as they did in the FA Cup third round), a team lower down the pecking order currently than we are, that it’s almost as if the referees try to help them along. Surely that should work in the same way. Surely, if we play Manchester United that would work in the same way. But I don’t feel it. I feel as if they are in awe of their big stars. Maybe it’s the fact that Manchester United are going to be in this league for the next 20 years and if they want to referee in it for the next 20, then they had better be all right with these big boys.”

Ok, that’s two managers who feel that referees are too friendly with the ‘big players’ at the ‘big clubs’. Could still be sour grapes or as Tony Mowbray said, paranoia.

However, back in January, Stoke manager Tony Pulis was incensed by the treatment his players receive from referees.

“We’re not asking for anything more than what the other clubs get. We’re just asking for the same and that’s important. The Referees’ Association has a responsibility to show they’re doing the same for all clubs whether it’s Liverpool, United, Arsenal, Chelsea or Stoke, West Brom, Bolton, whoever. It’s plain to see we haven’t got the decisions others have got. We have got stick for the way we play and I don’t know if this is a continuation of that. I heard former referee Graham Poll said he thought the referee Chris Foy wouldn’t send a Manchester United player off because he’s in line to do the Carling Cup final and United might be in the final. That’s crazy. It’s becoming a class society, looking after the people at the top and not worrying about the people below.”

We are definitely beginning to see a pattern developing here aren’t we? One manager, sour grapes, two managers, coincidence, three managers…?

I suppose it is only human nature that referees want to be ‘in’ with the top stars, but it is very sad to think that they may be unprofessional enough to display any sort of bias. Maybe it could explain why the likes of Wayne Rooney and John Terry are able to run fifty yards to direct a foul-mouthed rant at the referee and get a smile and a little telling off, whilst less well known players are sent-off for using foul and abusive language.

We can’t allow football to be refereed by men who allow themselves to be ‘star struck’. If there is any evidence that this really happens, the authorities should clamp down on it immediately.