ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Double Standards

Compliant in respect of Mr Mark Clattenburg Premier League Referee:

I would like to register my utter disgust and disbelief that a Premier League official whom is considered to be at the top of his profession can be allowed to get away with absolutely shocking decisions (listed below) and bias towards Liverpool Football Club. These decisions have been played out over the last couple of days since the Merseyside Derby (21/10/07) in the national media, however the lack of information that has came from yourselves and the FA is scandalous.

1. Sending off of Tony Hibbert after words from Steven Gerrard, Q is it not against the rules to sway an official?s decision??

2. Penalty Claim(1) Steve Finnan manhandles(bear hugs) Joleon Lescott, no penalty.

3. Tackle by Dirk Kuyt on Phil Neville ? Q ? What is the difference between the tackle made at Old Trafford by Jon Obe Mikel who received a straight red, or was it because Dirk Kuyt said I quote ?I did not mean that?, the player was over 2 ½ feet in the air whilst making that challenge, again this is indirect conflict to your refereeing rules.

4. Penalty claim (2) Jamie Carragher assault on Joleon Lescott ? The referee was no further that 10 feet way and gave no penalty, however he gave the penalty on Tony Hibbert from at least 3 times that distance!!

I refer to the Liverpool vs Chelsea game, Rob Styles gave a penalty against Liverpool that day and was rightly castrated in the media and by his own organisation (Keith Hackett), he was forced to apologise to Liverpool FC. If indeed their is no bias towards the so called ?Big 4? why has no action been taken against Mr Clattenburg or Steven Gerrard. If these incidents had have happened at Anfield and towards the Liverpool team, I and possibly the majority of Everton FC fans and neutral supporters would be in no doubt that action would be swift against the official in charge.

If the EPL is to be transparent and not be classed as the same as the Corrupt Serie A League, then blatant mistakes should be punished, if it happened to the Big 4 this matter would have been dealt with swiftly as per the Liverpool vs Chelsea Game.

All I ask for (and I meaning the entire Everton Supporters) is that you provide answers on why no action has been taken against the referee.

His non-inclusion is nothing to do with the game last weekend but due to a UFEA Game on Thursday 26 Oct 07.

Yours Sincerely,
Tommy Hesketh, Glasgow Posted 23/10/2007 at 14:58:30

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Comments

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rob stiles
1 Posted 24/10/2007 at 08:14:06

i think mr clattenburg had a rather a good game and it is well known throughout the refereeing profession that joleon the elephant man is a diver

Tony Williams
2 Posted 24/10/2007 at 08:54:26

As I said to another poster, you will have a better chance getting a blow job from the queen than getting anything other than a standard pre-written response to your letter.

Don’t get me wrong I applaud yopu for putting your feelings to the FA, but we all know that Barfly the red will do absolutely nothing about it.

I did laugh at one point when you said Syles was castrated, a bit harsh I thought for a poor decision, possible you meant castigated.

All in all a very good and fair letter, a pity it won’t get amswered

Jim
3 Posted 24/10/2007 at 08:41:47

I agree with rob not a bad game from mr clattenburg

Eric Heyess
4 Posted 24/10/2007 at 10:01:45

I think Mr Clattenburg had his best game and if thats his best I hope its his last.

Winston Zeddmore
5 Posted 24/10/2007 at 11:19:34

All premier league officials and linesmen should have no ties or preference of football following whatsoever. Anybody who officiates at any level should not have a favoured team. So in that respect anybody who contributes here at any time cannot hope to be a referee.

Unfortunately (for us at least), that just is not the case. The days of impartial and unbiased officials, if indeed they ever existed, are no more. I remember in the recent past liverpool were playing and some referee, cant remember the name, actually punched the air when the shite scored! - 100% true.

Eric Jonhson
6 Posted 24/10/2007 at 11:38:02

Stop crying you lot...the reds wons fair and square, play to the whitsle boys... if only arteta and lescott where half-decent...good luck gyus hopefully you lot dont get relegated...

Steve Thomas
7 Posted 24/10/2007 at 12:00:39

is eric johnson related to peter johnson, hes full of shit just like him

Anto Doran
8 Posted 24/10/2007 at 12:22:37

disgusting smell of the RS in here! I honestly dont think either of Lescotts penalties were out-and-out penalties though if Gerrards was really a penalty then we should have gotton 2 not to mention Kuyt should have gotton the red. its history now and we all have to remember the main thing is that that last seasons game was PLAYED FAIR with no shite ref playing the twelefth Beatle and we spanked the RS 3-0 :)

Gav Jones
9 Posted 24/10/2007 at 13:00:21

I’m still incredibly bitter about Saturday, and rightfully so, but Anto let’s be honest last seasons game at Goodison was not played completely fair and square.
They were far more difficult decisions for the referee to spot but Tony Hibbert should have conceded (another!) penalty for handball and as much as I love him for it, anyone who was there will remember Cahill’s headlock on Alonso which led to a goal for us. The fact that we played better than Liverpool means these incidents may be forgotten because we deserved to win the game.
I’m not trying to compare it to the travesty that was Clattenburg’s performance but let’s not pretend we won last season fair and square.

patty bee
10 Posted 24/10/2007 at 15:15:49

Eric Jonhson - get off our site - no red shite allowed here - isn’t your own site interesting enough with the garlic paella spanish waiter telling you all that crap about how great you are!!

Arteta and Lescott only half-decent - your’e having a laugh cockles aren’t you.

You either can’t spell your own surname i.e. Johnson or its some weird Scandinavian spelling and that figures - most R.S. supporters don’t come from the Pool. Everton supporters watch their team at the game.... Red Shite watch it in the Pub.

Tommy Hesketh
11 Posted 24/10/2007 at 15:32:17

Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 3:28 PM
To: rasa.dmcm@apc.army.mod.uk
Subject: RE:

Dear Thomas,

Thank you for your email regarding the referee?s performance at the weekend fixture. We are sorry that you were disappointed with the performance in that match.
There is not a formal mechanism for individuals to complain about referees? performances and decisions. However, I thought it would be helpful for you to know the process undertaken by the Professional Games Match Officials, the body which employs all the referees, to monitor, scrutinise and improve the referees performances throughout the season.
Please be assured that the performance of the referee in this fixture, together with all performances by the Select Group Referees, will be reviewed with him in detail in a number of different ways. There is constant monitoring of referees? performances, with a view to improving their performance from week to week. Referees are given both positive feedback and are appropriately criticised if it is felt that decisions were wrong.
The referee?s technical performance in a match is assessed by the Independent Assessor, and their overall handling of the match is reported on by an Independent Match Delegate, who is often a former player, manager or coach. These reports focus on the referee?s fitness, his control of the match, the way that he deals with key incidents as well as the way he communicates his decisions. These reports are shared with the referees on both a formal and informal basis. The aim is to help the referee to improve his performance, taking into account the scrutiny of each performance.
There are a range of tools available to help referees, including coaching, fortnightly feedback sessions and technology. In addition, the Select Group of Referees meet on a fortnightly basis, giving all the referees an opportunity to communicate and discuss issues of concern and ensure a greater consistency of performance.
The aim of the Professional Game Match Officials is to help referees to improve their performance from week to week.
I do hope the above helps clarify how we are constantly trying to improve and maintain standards of refereeing.
Thank you for taking the time to make us aware of your views.
Kind regards,
Communications Team

Was it worth it, probably not but it made me feel better!!!

Dave Roberts
12 Posted 24/10/2007 at 16:26:49

There, in Eric Johnson’s contribution to this thread, is the difference between Kopites and Evertonians. Eric thinks what happened on Saturday was fair and square! Well we know Kopites will take anything that comes their way don’t we (including their fellow supporters tickets if Athens is anything to go by!) They are a Simian lot, while we Evertonians have a cerebral approach to football and to life in general, We are just more intelligent. We take being robbed philosophically and discuss the matter intelligently on websites like this while
Kopites just rob and riot for the most part as far as my experience suggests.

Eric, you must have suffered for the past 13 months since we trashed your team at Goodison and if the referees assistance on Saturday ensured your frustration was somewhat appeased then I am glad you feel happier.

I understand, Eric, that there are a few long words in this post which I know Evertonians will not have a difficulty with, but which I know you will not understand. May I recommend the Ladybird Dictionary for pre-school children to assist you. In the meantime I will help you with two words:-

Simian= Apelike.

Cerebral= With intelligence and thoughtfulness

Evertonian= Worth 20 Kopites

Now Fuck Off.

Steve Stallwood
13 Posted 23/10/2007 at 10:25:40

Clattenburg performance at the derby ? A Yes vote:

Inept - Yes
Overawed - Yes
Intimidated - Yes
Flawed - Yes
Mistaken - Yes
Professional - No
Biased - Probably
Corrupt - Possibly

CLATTENBURG, PROBABLY THE BEST LIVERPOOL # 12 EVER