Stop insulting the beautiful game!

**Stevo Da Gull** · 27/09/2008, 4:11 PM

I was watching Pat Dolan spew more rubbish today after Rob Styles made yet another dreadful decision today. But my main gripe here is not with the fact that an official who repeatedly proves to be incompetent is still in a job.
Pat Dolan gave that stupid old rubbish - these decisions are why we love football, it makes it interesting etc etc.. I'm sorry but that is an insult to the beautiful game. I love football because of the football played. Games being ruined by decisions are not enjoyable.

**superfrank** · 28/09/2008, 2:55 PM

Originally Posted by Stevo Da Gull

Pat Dolan gave that stupid old rubbish - these decisions are why we love football, it makes it interesting etc et.

I've never heard anyone say that before.

That penalty decision must have been the FA's present to Ferguson after the Terry red card was rescinded.

**Stevo Da Gull** · 28/09/2008, 3:27 PM

Originally Posted by superfrank

I've never heard anyone say that before.

That penalty decision must have been the FA's present to Ferguson after the Terry red card was rescinded.

I've heard it used (usually on Sky) as an argument against technology being introduced to the game, that these incidents are what fill the papers on a Monday and are part of what we love about the game. I'd much rather talk about great players than bad officiating myself. But Pat Dolan for one doesn't agree, which is not at all what you'd expect from a former manager.

I didn't start this thread to moan about officials, but really... Rob Styles... how can any set of players take this man seriously?

EDIT: In case it's not obvious, I really can't stomach Dolan as a pundit and have to turn the channel over when he's talking, as I did yesterday immediately after I heard his comment.

**NeilMcD** · 28/09/2008, 3:27 PM

3 jokes here.

1 is the joke of a decision to give a penalty

2nd joke is the joke of Setanta to have Pat Dolan as a pundit.

3rd joke is the suggestion that it was a present to Ferguson from the FA.

**OwlsFan** · 29/09/2008, 4:19 PM

People who condemn referee's decisions have no idea what it must be like to referee a game with players diving and cheating a lot of the time. I assume Styles didn't see the defender making the contact with the ball and so gave the peno. Is anyone seriously suggesting that he saw the contact and still gave the peno? If not then he has to give the peno.

I have suggested in the EPL thread that they should use technology on a limited basis for such decisions.

**Stevo Da Gull** · 29/09/2008, 7:45 PM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

People who condemn referee's decisions have no idea what it must be like to referee a game with players diving and cheating a lot of the time. I assume Styles didn't see the defender making the contact with the ball and so gave the peno. Is anyone seriously suggesting that he saw the contact and still gave the peno? If not then he has to give the peno.

I have suggested in the EPL thread that they should use technology on a limited basis for such decisions.

Yes, which is why, despite my lack of confidence in Styles' ability, I said that the point of this thread was not to have a go at Styles. It is a complaint about the attitude which defends such match turning decisions as part of the game. Any way that these decisions can be nullified to allow football matches to be decided by the players should be pursued, such as technology (to a limited extent) as you suggested. It was the way Dolan defended the decision, almost as though it were good for the game, that got my goat.

**newbie** · 29/09/2008, 8:43 PM

if technology is to be used then it will only be in goal line terms,and rightly so i think. the game would be stopped constantly for decisions involving play. how many goals are scored/nearly scored from break away attacks after a team is turned down a pen apeal etc.

as for Styles...i think he bottled it and gave in to the roar of the crowd. there was no players in his way and had a perfect view of it. it wasnt even close to a peno. hes rang and apologized to Bolton,but thats his 2nd time having to do so after ringing Benitez last season.

**Stevo Da Gull** · 29/09/2008, 8:57 PM

Yes the technology would have to be limited, goal line technology is a must. Also there is usually a bit of a gap between a penalty being given and taken, I don't see the problem with the fourth official having access to a screen and being able to tell the ref through his ear-piece that he definitely made the wrong decision - if indeed the fourth official is 100% certain, as he would have been with that decision on Saturday. The same could be done in the time between a goal being scored and the re-start of the game if the 4th official can see that the goal was 100% offside.
Doing this would not slow the game and would cut down on the amount of goals which shouldn't stand but do.