Mark Clattenburg.....the worst ref in Britain?

[rambler14]

IMO there is no worse referee than him. He has an amazing ability to lose control in even the smallest game. There is no referee who makes more mistakes than him.
I say this now because i'm growing frustrated at the standard of his refereeing in the Man Utd vs Spurs game. It's half-time nowand he has booked 5 players. He is awarding free-kicks against United because the Spurs side are taking aim at the Uniteds players hands! He once again seems to have lost all control.
If there is controversy in the premiership he's behind it. Examples:
-Pedro Mendes' "goal" vs United
-The 1st Merseyside derby this year.
Feel free to add more. I know he's irritated a lot of you in some way.

[Risteard]

Is that game on telly now?

[NeilMcD]

Its on Setanta and Spurs are all over Utd, Keane shoudl have made it two

[NeilMcD]

Nani lucky to stay on the pitch there, could easily have been a red.

[rambler14]

C'MON HAVE SOME A THAT!!!!!!!!!!!

Clattenburg handled the 2nd half better but he's still a crap ref

[feo123]

he was said to be one of the better up and coming referees in the league when he startd, he has gone downhill though. 10 bookings in a game is bad, booked rooney for diving then a few minutes later huddlestone dives and he just tells him get up. no consistency.

[osarusan]

Spurs looked good, they shut down United for long periods. Giggs and Scholes were anonymous throughout. Ferguson gave credit to Spurs in the interview.

And even though they had 7 booked, I thought only Brown's was debatable, and Nani's tackle was a shocker.

Spurs could have had a couple more booked.

Keane should have won it.

[bellavistaman]

he was said to be one of the better up and coming referees in the league when he startd, he has gone downhill though. 10 bookings in a game is bad, booked rooney for diving then a few minutes later huddlestone dives and he just tells him get up. no consistency.

speaking of consistency what about the arsenal man city game, fabregas boots the balls away when moaning, doesnt get booked, and petrov later kicks the ball away a shorter distance with more reason to be annoyed than fabregas and does get booked. Annoying or what.

Clatteneberg was terrbile in the united game i thought.

[rambler14]

Speaking of bad refs. hat about Rob Styles in the Liverpool vs Sunderland match.
Carragher charges down Murphy's shot with his hands. No Penalty.
Nosworthy takes the ball in what was an agressive challenge but HE DID WIN THE BALL. Penalty.
Again no consistency.

[dfx-]

-The 1st Merseyside derby this year.

I am biased, but do not see how that game is proof of anything really. Is stopping a goalscoring opportunity not a red card? Is Phil Neville handling the ball not a penalty?

Because some people made a fuss about not giving Everton 'a fair chance' i.e. penalties that shouldn't be awarded, he's adjudged poor.

[rambler14]

I am biased, but do not see how that game is proof of anything really. Is stopping a goalscoring opportunity not a red card? Is Phil Neville handling the ball not a penalty?

Because some people made a fuss about not giving Everton 'a fair chance' i.e. penalties that shouldn't be awarded, he's adjudged poor.

All the cards again. That game had 12 yellows if i remember.




One of the yellows received by Man Utd had repprecussions. Wayne Rooney out of the Manchester Derby.

[bellavistaman]

Styles was a joke alright nut to ber fair that was all the linesman that gave liverpool peno.

[sligoman]

Robbie Keane is a disgrace to his country. He chased the ball down numerous times today putting Vidic and others under pressure the whole time. Yet when he puts on the green shirt he does **** all and expects everything done for him. Hopefully Trappatoni will sort his attitude towards Ireland out.

United extremely lucky to get something out of the game, shocking performance.

[bellavistaman]

Robbie Keane is a disgrace to his country. He chased the ball down numerous times today putting Vidic and others under pressure the whole time. Yet when he puts on the green shirt he does **** all and expects everything done for him. Hopefully Trappatoni will sort his attitude towards Ireland out.

United extremely lucky to get something out of the game, shocking performance.

I think under stan all players performances dropped and attitudes dropped, bar kilbane finnan and given alot should be out to prove to themselves and the country what they can do, and i suppose that it was down to stan not them. Anyway back on topic, clattenberg is a disgrace. :D

[feo123]

why did he book ronaldo? all he done was point as his hand and say he couldnt move out of the way and clatenburg books him!?

[pineapple stu]

All the cards again. That game had 12 yellows if i remember.
Were they justified?

[sligoman]

why did he book ronaldo? all he done was point as his hand and say he couldnt move out of the way and clatenburg books him!?As the commentator said, he was being smart with the ref by saying 'What did you expect me to do put my hands down my shorts out of the way?' He handballed, he had nothing to protest about really but did and therefore got carded for it.

[NeilMcD]

Its funny Rooney shouted at the ref last week I think it was midweek and you could cleary him shout **** off you cheating c**t and no card and the ref was very close to him

[osarusan]

One of the yellows received by Man Utd had repprecussions. Wayne Rooney out of the Manchester Derby.

That was a blatant dive and a fully deserved booking. Even Rooney didn't complain.

You can argue that Clattenburg lost control of the game from the start, and allowed the players to get away with too much. But all the bookings were justified I thought.

[feo123]

As the commentator said, he was being smart with the ref by saying 'What did you expect me to do put my hands down my shorts out of the way?' He handballed, he had nothing to protest about really but did and therefore got carded for it.

and that deserves a yellow card?

[superfrank]

Surely the officials at the Blackburn everton game yesterday were worse.

Everton had a good goal ruled out and David Dunn wasn't booked for deliberate handball, which would've sent him off.

Also, I don't understand how booking a lot of people means the ref is bad, surely the players should realise the ref's not going to stand for messing and they should cop on.

[OwlsFan]

Surely the officials at the Blackburn everton game yesterday were worse.

Everton had a good goal ruled out and David Dunn wasn't booked for deliberate handball, which would've sent him off.

Also, I don't understand how booking a lot of people means the ref is bad, surely the players should realise the ref's not going to stand for messing and they should cop on.

Soccer is an almost impossible game to referee with players cheating and diving and the new offside rule. I would love those who attack referees to try it sometime.

The Everton non "goal" was interesting. Johnson was offside coming back when the move started. Also Mark Hughes who perpetually moans about decisions against him got the benefit of this one. Wonder what he said and he'll soon forget it when the next decisions goes against him.

[reder]

Surely the officials at the Blackburn everton game yesterday were worse.

Everton had a good goal ruled out and David Dunn wasn't booked for deliberate handball, which would've sent him off.


Much as I hate Everton and laugh at their misfortune, they were robbed today. Why AJ's goal was disallowed, Ill never ever understand.

The Spurs v Mancs game looked like a very lively affair and was an extremely difficult game to ref, in my opinion. It wasnt Clatteneberg's greatest game but taking all into account, I think he did ok.

Neither incident in the Liverpool game warranted a penalty in my opinion.

[Torn-Ado]

Robbie Keane is a disgrace to his country. He chased the ball down numerous times today putting Vidic and others under pressure the whole time. Yet when he puts on the green shirt he does **** all and expects everything done for him. Hopefully Trappatoni will sort his attitude towards Ireland out.

United extremely lucky to get something out of the game, shocking performance.

http://foot.ie/showthread.php?t=43943

You've changed your tune.

And it only took four years. ;)

[sligoman]

http://foot.ie/showthread.php?t=43943

You've changed your tune.

And it only took four years. ;)Haha, I was lot more immature back then, as you can tell by the post:o. Still, Robbie Keane was good back then, he just doesn't give a **** anymore.

[bellavistaman]

Surely the officials at the Blackburn everton game yesterday were worse.

Everton had a good goal ruled out and David Dunn wasn't booked for deliberate handball, which would've sent him off.

Also, I don't understand how booking a lot of people means the ref is bad, surely the players should realise the ref's not going to stand for messing and they should cop on.

how aj johnsons goal wasnt given ill never know. Unbelievable like, thats a massive 2 points lost for everton.

[bellavistaman]

Surely the officials at the Blackburn everton game yesterday were worse.

Everton had a good goal ruled out and David Dunn wasn't booked for deliberate handball, which would've sent him off.

Also, I don't understand how booking a lot of people means the ref is bad, surely the players should realise the ref's not going to stand for messing and they should cop on.

how a johnsons goal wasnt given ill never know. Unbelievable like, thats a massive 2 points lost for everton.

[McShels]

He is awarding free-kicks against United because the Spurs side are taking aim at the Uniteds players hands!

My God, this has to be one of the worst posts ever!!!!

Poor Manu players crying ah ref he tired to hit my hand with the ball not fair!!!!!!!

Next week we will see the introduction of a new rule which states that no lashies against the poor ickle Man U lambs..... :D:D:D

Its also funny that MOTD didnt show Rooneys dive on sat night yet if it was Ronaldo, Fabregas, Drogba or any other foreign player in the league they would show it again and again and again.

[Roadend]

Speaking of bad refs. hat about Rob Styles in the Liverpool vs Sunderland match.
Carragher charges down Murphy's shot with his hands. No Penalty.
Nosworthy takes the ball in what was an agressive challenge but HE DID WIN THE BALL. Penalty.
Again no consistency.

Carragher's handball could have been easily given I'll grant you, but your take on the stonewall penalty for Livrepool is laughable. He took Pennat down before touching the ball. It was in no way a questionable decision. Penalty all day long.

[superfrank]

Soccer is an almost impossible game to referee with players cheating and diving and the new offside rule. I would love those who attack referees to try it sometime.
This was a blatant handball and he was already on a yellow card. The ref even gave a free.

The Everton non "goal" was interesting. Johnson was offside coming back when the move started.
He was offside in that instance but he didn't get near the ball and by the time the ball came to him he was behind three players.

Also Mark Hughes who perpetually moans about decisions against him got the benefit of this one. Wonder what he said and he'll soon forget it when the next decisions goes against him.
Hughes started moaning about penalties not being given to Blackburn.

[feo123]

£25,000 fine for united. disgrace

[mypost]

Speaking of bad refs. hat about Rob Styles in the Liverpool vs Sunderland match.
Carragher charges down Murphy's shot with his hands. No Penalty.
Nosworthy takes the ball in what was an agressive challenge but HE DID WIN THE BALL. Penalty.
Again no consistency.

Both decisions were correct.

Carragher's "handball" was completely accidental, he never moved his arm/hand between the ball being hit and striking him. No penalty.

The Sunderland tackle was a penalty. Mind you, you tend to get those decisions when you've won the game, and not like at West Ham, (Neill's handball in his box), when you need them. :o

Worst ref in England is Riley. His decision not to award us a penalty against Chelsea 3 years ago following Carvalho's handball, was one of the worst decisions made in years. :mad:

[osarusan]

Carragher's "handball" was completely accidental, he never moved his arm/hand between the ball being hit and striking him. No penalty.

It is true that he didn't move his arm between the ball being struck, and the ball striking him. But if you make a block in the penalty area, and the ball hits your already outstretched arms, that's a penalty. The positioning of the arms in so as to block a ball that would not otherwise have been blocked by any part of the body is a deliberate action.

[mypost]

It is true that he didn't move his arm between the ball being struck, and the ball striking him. But if you make a block in the penalty area, and the ball hits your already outstretched arms, that's a penalty. The positioning of the arms in so as to block a ball that would not otherwise have been blocked by any part of the body is a deliberate action.

Well, if that's the case, there'd be a penalty every time there was the merest sign of handball. The ball hitting the chest/shoulder would be classed as handball. The thing that decides it, is whether you control the ball intentionally with your hands. Outstretched arms is not that.

Amid all the bruhaha however, people do forget that we were 2-0 up at the time, it wasn't going to affect the game that much, whether it was given or not. We were well capable of going up the other end and scoring again if necessary, which we did.

[KevB76]

I agree with this bit....

The thing that decides it, is whether you control the ball intentionally with your hands.

...but not this:

Outstretched arms is not that.

Its generally accepted that out-stretched arms is inherently deliberate.

On Clattenburg, he is the best premiership ref in my opinion, although he made a complete farce of the Liverpooll/Everton derby.

[osarusan]

Obviously, when you are only a yard away from the ball, you don't have time to move your arms after the ball has been struck in an attempt to block it. In this case, the position of your arms before the ball was struck is crucial.

We see defenders all the time with their hands behind their back, minimizing the chance of giving away a penalty even if the ball does hit their arm.

If you slide in like Carragher did, arms outstretched, and the ball hits them, it's a penalty in my book.

[rambler14]

He was at it again yesterday. He embarrassed himself by sending off Lee Bowyer.

[pineapple stu]

Well, if that's the case, there'd be a penalty every time there was the merest sign of handball. The ball hitting the chest/shoulder would be classed as handball. The thing that decides it, is whether you control the ball intentionally with your hands. Outstretched arms is not that.
If the player has the opportunity of retracting his arms and doesn't, it's a penalty.

[feo123]

never a sending off yesterday, another poor decisioon, hope they resind it and embarass him!!

[NeilMcD]

Haha, I was lot more immature back then, as you can tell by the post:o. Still, Robbie Keane was good back then, he just doesn't give a **** anymore.

That is rubbish you see Keane for Ireland and he chases players down all the time but drops too deep in recent times as the midfield cant hold onto the bal and he gets frustrated. Also for some reason his finishing has not been as good for Ireland in recent times as it iss fior spurss. It all hints to me at not being relaxed enough and too pumped up.;

[feo123]

he seems to try too hard for ireland, hes irelands best player by an absolute country mile imo!! his record in the best league in the world proves that, no matter how many goals he's getting for ireland, its not exactly as if hes getting anywhere near as good service as he's getting with spurs!

[gaiscíoch]

That is rubbish you see Keane for Ireland and he chases players down all the time but drops too deep in recent times as the midfield cant hold onto the bal and he gets frustrated. Also for some reason his finishing has not been as good for Ireland in recent times as it iss fior spurss. It all hints to me at not being relaxed enough and too pumped up.;

Absolutely spot on there Neil. He does drop too far back. Ramos has stopped all that though... Well at least for Spurs.
Just on todays games. I hope none of you mind me talking bout it here.
Mike Riley today was a joke. He completely killed the game, he gives frees for literally nothing i.e a player falling over in a challenge. In my humble opinion refs have ruined the game, with nonsense bookings.
Joey Barton yesterday smacked Maloney across the face pushed him to the ground then decided to hand ball it for good measure and does't even get spoken to(I know the FA are after him).
Then today Mr. Riley starts giving frees for nothing and handing out cards as though it's christmas today the standard is brutal. These men are professionals.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Don't know how Clattenburg didn't send off Mullins yesterday.

[reder]

Don't know how Clattenburg didn't send off Mullins yesterday.

Yes but how did he send off Lee Bowyer? Incredible decision.

[mypost]

If the player has the opportunity of retracting his arms and doesn't, it's a penalty.

His actions before it was struck don't count. But the fact was had no chance to do anything once the ball was struck. It hit his arm, but he didn't handle the ball, i.e. no penalty.

Same on Sunday, when Cole did his "Malouda" impression by jumping into Mascherano in the box. Again, no penalty.

[OwlsFan]

Mike Riley today was a joke. He completely killed the game, he gives frees for literally nothing i.e a player falling over in a challenge. In my humble opinion refs have ruined the game, with nonsense bookings.
.

Refs have ruined the game :rolleyes: What about players feigning injury, cheating, diving etc etc ? It is a totally thankless task being a referee these days and I wouldn't do it for all the tea in China. Every decision is dissected and analysed with slow motion cameras, none of which they get a chance to see during the game. They have to make instaneous decisions, many of which of course are wrong. If all the refs are getting it wrong as alleged, then it can't be the refs' fault. There is some much more deep rooted problem.

[osarusan]

What annoys me recently is that the attitude to diving has become something like "It's the ref's job to stop it."

No it isn't, it is the players job to stop it.

[DaveyCakes]

This nonsense that the referees are ruining the game is spread by tv pundits who don't want to offend their still-playing mates, who probably use the same agents.

When players start kicking lumps out of each other, it's the refs fault because he lost control of the game early on. If the ref dishes out a few cards early on, he's spoiled the game as a spectacle.

One week, they're banging on about wanting consistency from refs, the next week it's common sense that's needed...

[OwlsFan]

This nonsense that the referees are ruining the game is spread by tv pundits who don't want to offend their still-playing mates, who probably use the same agents.

When players start kicking lumps out of each other, it's the refs fault because he lost control of the game early on. If the ref dishes out a few cards early on, he's spoiled the game as a spectacle.

One week, they're banging on about wanting consistency from refs, the next week it's common sense that's needed...

Couldn't have put it any better myself. Too many Andy "Bash the Ref" Grays out there.