Gibson appeal hearing set for Thursday

I honestly think the officiating for the MLS over here is better than the officiating for the Premier League. I'm not English so I don't think I have room to argue in favor of bringing in foreign officials. Some of you must support that idea, though. Italy and Germany, in particular, have excellent officiating from what I have seen. As I said, it's a conversation to be had amongst people who have been raised with English national pride but from the standpoint of a foreign fan, I think it would be great to see PGMOL kicked out and a higher level of officiating brought in.

The rookie thing is key in relation to your second point. I don't think foreign referees work for a multitude of reasons, not least of which is an Italian refereeing an English Premier League game as if it was a Serie A game would cause a riot, and he'd be as popular as Clattenburg is with us in no time. Or Collina for that matter...

I know we have foreign refs in UEFA and FIFA tournaments, but if you watch you'll often see these refs "compensate" and modify their decision making to suit the relative styles of the teams. Ordinarily I'd regale against this as all we want is consistency, but when you think about it, apart from being a human response, it does make some sort of sense.

All football federations have to apply the same set of rules. Their own prioritising and tolerance limits are down to them, hence there are differences between leagues. And referees do make horrendous decisions in every league. It's just not got the same wall-to-wall exposure as the EPL.

I do hope the card is rescinded, I hope common sense prevails as both the red cards were definitely harsh, we do need our squad numbers to compete and maintain our challenge for the top 4...

Absolutely unbelievable here the Red Shite supporters here just waiting for our 2nd half season implosion, looking forward to prove them wrong :)

Nevertheless, lousy officiating during the game by one linesman and the referee ruined what was otherwise a quite good game between 2 teams playing the game in good spirit. Damn, these refs are an irritation!

I think Moyes is just spreading out the bans so we only miss Gibson AND Fellaini together for the Chelsea match.

Completely agree with Tony. It probably should not have been a red card, but it was at least a yellow. If the FA goes against their refs on these they will have a very busy time on appeals. So no chance and I think Moyes is aware (unless the logic is that he is having joint forces with Allardyce and the appeal is "joint").

You mean like Collina?

Anyone who like me has played the game, admittedly not at a very high standard should know the difference between a player who gets done for pace and mis-times the tackle and brings the player down (definite yellow), to over the top challenges, or jumping in with studs up (definite red, to a loose ball that two players are putting their bodies on the line in an effort to win the ball.

This is a perfect example of the road to hell being paved etc etc. Nobody wants to see the return of the hatchet men who used to cynically go out to put players out of the game, if anyone gets a chance to watch the film about the 1966 World Cup (I think it’s called Goal!)and watch how Hungary take Pele out of the game, I’m surprised it got passed the censors, it’s that brutal. But football’s going from the cor blimey to the ridiculous and soon all contact will be deemed unacceptable (in fact Platini has mooted the outlawing of tackling), when that happens we might as well watch the ballet; better kits and better footwork.

He was a fantastic referee!

Very rarely had an average game, let alone a bad one, and was widely considered the best referee of his generation. A "world class" referee, named FIFA's "Best Referee Of The Year" six consecutive times!

What on earth happened in the Villareal-match? Maybe we'll never know, but it seems utterly bizzare that the best referee in the world performs so erraticly in one game, favouring the Spaniards all the way with countless innocuous free-kicks and then shockingly disallowing a perfectly good goal, before totally out of the blue retiring from football

Was he bribed? I find that hard to believe. My theory is thay maybe he, or his family, had been threatened by very powerful forces.

Why else would the top referee in the world retire in the month of August, when the season had hardly begun?

Finally you can always tell by reaction of players in both incidents the players seemed shocked.

A Hammers fan!? That's a first one for me. I've been an avid Toffee since the 1995/96-season!

I fully agree with everything you're saying and I'm totally aware of the circumstances surrounding the Villareal-game. Everton was not wanted in the CL by FIFA/UEFA, and were ruthlessly thrown out of the competition, no doubt about that.
In many ways, the Villareal-game more or less broke my heart as a football-fan. It turned me into an old cynic at the age of 23.

I'm just saying that I don't think Collina was bribed. I think he was threateneed, mafia style
Collina, throughout his career, seemd such a man of principle and honour. It just doesn't make sence. And why did he retire shortly after, making the Villareal v Everton game the last competitive game of his career?

Something just doesn't ad up. Hopefully the truth will come to the surface eventually. (feel free to label me a conspiracy theorist, but I suspect the RS is involved on some level as well)

As we know, a 'compromise' was reached where they were allowed entry at the first qualification stage. The showed a massive conflict in interest as by allowing this Davis retained a competitive advantage for Liverpool in the PL to which they were not entitled.

As for picking Vilarreal out of the hat, its all a load of heated balls.

I will think they will rescind the reds, but whatever happens, the appeal will not be considered frivolous, so we will not lose Gibson for an extra match. Fingers cross they make the correct decision.

Most on here seem to disagree...but I think Gibson's was slightly worse than Cole's.

Cole was watching the ball drop over his shoulder and didn't have a clue where Baines was. Gibbo could see his opponent all the way and still chose to go in with a high boot.

I should say, I think the ref could have easily got away without even reaching for a yellow. I just think the panel could see Gibbo's as slightly worse.

Thanks for the info, I was unaware of the story about the RS boardmember.

Henrik, if they don't rescind them then they WILL flooded with appeals in the future. If a player is sent off every time he raises his foot anywhere near another player we'll end up with two goalies on the pitch!

David, you can watch that match, or just the highlights, on Youtube. I was at the game, brutal doesn't come anywhere near....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wyp-xT4sMU

2 players were sent off. In the 3 minute clip you can count probably about 15 red card offences including a punch that sparks an Italian out, a 'real shoulder charge' tackle - the player runs at his man side on stop him, a full rugby tackle, and endless kicking at each other which goes unpunished. The 2nd red card is for the italian going for a real head height tackle with his foot.

Ray 022. I am afraid that any FA would try to protect their referees, and limit the number of red cards rescinded. And if too many appeals they will just add one extra match to the ban. It was a freekick and they will hide behind that fact even though 99% thinks it is a yellow at most.

I am not defending the FA, I am just looking at their motives. So I am convinced it will not be rescinded, AND I am convinced that Moyes knows, but he just wants Gibson available today which I think it quite clever.

Neither player had any intent other to win the ball and the challenges were at nearly a right angle so contact wasn't inevitable; never a red card offence. If you DO judge Gibson's challenge to be reckless or dangerous then Noble's was equally so and he should have sent both off irrespective of who was hurt in the process. Ridiculous refereeing made worse by using the 'consequences' as the determination of guilt (i.e. Gibson being treated differently to Noble for virtually identical challenges).

BBC — doncha just love 'em?

As for the conspiracy theory for the CL circa 2005, don't forget how the Daily Mail in particular had a huge campaign to get our loveable friends into the competition as the holders.

I'll never forget the lifestyle shows (my Mrs was watching them) mostly on the BBC harping on about what a wonderful night it was and how the Dark Side had done it for England.

Tony that West Brom goal was a disgrace how the hell could Green get to it? And that no-eyed baldie cunt Shearer virtually comes out and admits he made a living doing the same all he ever did was back into players.

Lawro made his usual RS biased bollocks against us and his defo pen from Maloney going over Osman's leg, I've seen them given but it wasn't a deliberate hack and true to form not a fucking peep or RS style autopsy against Kone for his handball just some shit about Wigan deserving a bit of luck, also fuck all about the yellow cards Caldwell or Stam could have had.

Re: Premier League —sadly, it's been corrupt since I can remember. :-(