Racism

Chelsea were angry with the ref about decisions throughout the game, I can easily see that they got so angry that they insulted the ref so much he could have replied with something inappropriate. I can also quite imagine that the players are stupid enough to claim racism when it wasn't there, given the hard done by feeling they had. Clattenburg has welcomed the investigation, which implies he's looking forward to discussing what was said to him (refs can't usually talk). I feel some Chelsea players my look pretty stupid.

 

If a referee is insulted there is still no need to say anything, wether inappropriate or not. He has the ultimate sanction sitting in his pocket. According to the papers, I know you cant believe everthing in them but Chelsea initially asked for Clattenburg to apologise it was only after he refused that they reported it to the premier league official. As has been said that the three other officials were in radio contact so there will be witnesses to any conversation, difficult situation for them

 

The more people whinge about alleged racism ,the more it is in the news , the worse its going to get , the more divided attitudes will become . Thanks to the emphasis on it over the last season or two thinks have moved backwards at a vast rate of knots.

 

I've just read auntie's link - I knew the officials were wired but I didn't know they weren't recorded. I really don't want to speculate on what was said by who to whom but now it looks like the officials' conversations should now be recorded. This would have two affects (I'm assuming the mikes would be robust enough): to record what the officials actually say and to record what the players are screaming when they from a scrum around a ref before/after he makes a decision. I do hope that the FA then takes sanctions against all who infringe the rules. Hopefully this would be the end of 2gobby" players on the pitch.

 

Clattenburg completely lost control of the game and looked rattled, it's not out of the question that he snapped and he has got previous for making stupid decisions under pressure and saying stupid things.

 

The refs should make a complaint of inappropriate language used against them every game.

 

Mountain out of a molehill currently.

Unlike John Terry, there is (not to my knowledge, at least) no damning video evidence. Secondly, the referee and linesmen are all wired up with mics, meaning anything said can be heard by all those relevant. Surely one of the linesmen or other officials would've immediately come out and made a statement?

I'm not completely dismissing the allegations but I can't help feeling it could just be a bit of sour grapes from Chelsea, who for once didn't have it all their own way.

 

Excellent point.

 

Where the **** is my post? If you couldn't sense the dripping sarcasm you must be some kind of idiot.

 

Very good point here.

The torrents of abuse referees must get every Saturday afternoon must be sickening.

 

I just read an article with an ex ref moaning about abuse they receive from players, whilst the players are on 50,000 a week when refs are on 80,000-100,000 a year.

I'm sorry but I'd happily take 90 minutes of abuse to work for 2 hours a week, and earn 80,000-100,000 a year. Ridiculous.

 

Excellent. But assuming the Premier League gig isn't available to you right now how about £30 to get the same abuse at the park on a Sunday morning from 22 blokes who think its acceptable because they saw it on MOTD the night before?

 

Am I expected to run for that amount of time? With not, sign me up!

 

Don't be ridiculous. Things don't impove if you pretend they aren't happening, just take the BBC as an example.

 

I know at least 10 people who ref sunday league and only once has one of them ever had any problem. Personally if i was playing sunday league i'd expect a slight crap ref, and wouldn't care too much, because i'm only playing for fun.

 

You know a very abnormal number of people that ref. I play Sunday's and the amount of crap the refs take put me off from ever doing it.

 

We got offered free reffing or coaching courses at school if we took GCSE PE, so most my friends did it. To be fair half of them do a lower age group, but a fair few did/do sunday league.

 

Yes I agree Nascot. I had to ref once in a 'friendly' when there were too many players. I was fed up about it because I'd come for a game, but I nearly ended up lamping one guy who kept on and on with the "you're a this, you're a that.." talk all the way through the match. I eventually put my nose about an inch away from his and roared at him - but not something a regular ref can do.

Forza says that he would be playing for fun on a Sunday, but I was persuaded to hang up my boots entirely by the idiots who think every game (however minor and irrelevant) is the world cup final and get all spitty and sweary.

I couldn't find a game which was just a kick about for fun.

 

You do have a point Clive, I played a 5 a side league in Hatfield, and my teammate ended up with a broken foot after an argument lead to a horrific tackle. This happened week in week out and tbh im amazed it was only him who got seriously injured. Its a joke really!

 

I have some Portuguese friends who formed a team made up entirely of Portuguese and Brazilians living over here. They were just a group of friends who liked to have a kick about.

They joined a local league and were actually pretty good and were promoted as champions that year.

However, by almost unanimous vote they resigned from the league and just arranged a game each Sunday between themselves. The reason? Way too much over competitive sweary spitting and kicking from other teams - taking themselves and the game way too seriously.

It wasn't what they were looking for.

 

I always assumed people referee because they aren't good enough to actually play.

 

Its certainly true that you don't get any former pros putting themselves forward to do it.

 

If Mark Clattenburg did indeed make a racist remark then Chelsea will be left with no option but to make him captain

 

First off, Clattenburg has a massive ego ( the hair weave/transplant, the Porsche 911 to get to games, the greedy/dodgy/ripping your mate off for £65k for which he got banned then appealed).

Next up, he's from the North East where I reffed/worked and they're 20years behind in political correctness.

Third, as I understand it now from the Daily Mail, it kicked off in the tunnel and dressing rooms afterwards, prompting the Chelsea senior official to press the complaint. So some of this won't be about what was said under the gaze of Sky cameras.

As for some of the other points, I took up refereeing as my work meant I had to work some nights and Saturdays which meant the clubs I played for (Essex Senior League/Ryman level) had to make a decision to drop a player to put me back in when I couldn't make it. Not fair, so I started reffing too.

You can also get to a higher level reffing, than your (my) playing ability - and get paid reasonably for your hobby, which when I had young kids paid for a social life.

I did the Watford Sunday League, the Spartan and Southern Leagues when I moved back South and reckoned on either side hating me about every 4th or 5th match! I could live with that as the games in between, when it goes well is the next best thing to playing well, as it feels like you are improving others sport.

FWIW, I sent off a player in Co Durham for calling me a black bas**** (Er, I'm a 6'2" white bloke who had a dad), and it took a while to realize he was shouting at me (I was checking around for Andy Cole or someone)
At the FA hearing, the guy claimed he was a miner and so was an opponent and this was normal affection between two workmates! Nothing to do with my penalty at all.
I love Geordies, but hey, not the walking ego that is Mark Clattenburg, who incidentally, didn't do so bad last weekend given the attitude and pressures from the players and the benches.
Was never that impressed by how he reffed us.

 

Nice post WW.

 

From what I've read Mikel didn't hear the abuse but was told about it immediately after it was said. Apparently David Luiz and Ramires heard it. I wonder quite how good their English is? Internet rumour would have me believe they speak next to none though I have no idea how true that is. I would be surprised if this complaint was upheld and if I were Clattenberg I'd be contacting defamation lawyers.

 

He allegedly called Juan Mata a 'Spanish t***t'. (Feel free to delete that part of the post if its deemed inappropriate)

I seriously doubt he'd be that thick, given all of the ructions of the past year or so.

 

It's a pretty safe bet that Clattenburg will never ref a Chelsea game again.

 

And? If he's paid enough to be able to afford one, why not? Or should he get the bus instead?

 

I think thats what Chelsea were trying to achieve. Even if theres nothing in it, he'll never ref there again.

 

He should do the decent thing and carpool with the other officials.

 

My mistake, I didn't realise they all lived together