Putting aside the rights and wrongs of his decisions, it's blindingly obvious that this particular referee has an ego the size of an elephant. He spends more time gazing at his own image in the pitch-side TV monitors than he does watching an actual game (not just this one, any one). Why those responsible for selecting match officials keep him on their books is a mystery to me.
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Putting aside the rights and wrongs of his decisions, it's blindingly obvious that this particular referee has an ego the size of an elephant. He spends more time gazing at his own image in the pitch-side TV monitors than he does watching an actual game (not just this one, any one). Why those responsible for selecting match officials keep him on their books is a mystery to me.
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For reasons I've mentioned in earlier blogs, I've become disenchanted with the game in recent times and, as a consequence, have only watched one complete televised soccer match this season. Rugby Union (in particular), cricket, tennis, F1 motor racing, and almost any other sport you care to mention has been a more attractive alternative to association football.
This afternoon, however, rather than suffer inane adverts for bookmakers during the half-time interval of the RU game between Wasps and Sale, I watched a few minutes of the Premier League match at Swansea. It could have been the fact that Manchester United's cast of prima donnas were involved; but, for whatever reason, in the short time involved, I witnessed more shirt-pulling, simulation (i.e. cheating), insubordination towards the referee and various other shenanigans than I've seen in four months of watching rugby union. The sooner football supporters realise that they are being taken for mugs by these over-paid, egotistical, cheats the better. However - as the old saying goes - fools and their money are soon parted. As the first match at Anfield since the results of the Hillsborough enquiry became known approaches, it's interesting (and saddening) to see how much is being made of the fact that Liverpool's opponents, tomorrow, are Manchester United. My own views on the issue have been reflected in these blogs quite often. However, it's comforting to see that I'm not alone in believing that Sir Alex Ferguson's arrival at Old Trafford has been a significant factor in creating the bad-feelings which have developed in recent times. This thoughtful article in The Independent, for example, suggests that (quote), "Ferguson stirred up this combustible mix, let's remember, however much he might be demanding dignity and respect tomorrow."
 Less than a week after mentioning him in a blog, I've received what could be described as a short essay from the Toffee chappie whose unbridled contempt for Liverpool Football Club has had such a surprisingly profound effect upon me. Pointing out (left) that he's not the author, he sent it as a means of explaining that the rather extreme (IMHO) views he holds are shared by otherss. Here it is (there are two pages).......... 
 For a moment, although I doubted that he would have read it, I wondered if it had been sent in response to my aforementioned blog. After all, I've had no direct contact since we met in June and hadn't any plans to extend the relationship. However, I suppose the blog could have touched a nerve and, in any event, apart from drawing attention to the writer's bigotry, it didn't reveal anything which hadn't already been made abundantly clear at the original meeting. So, since the writer seemed somewhat obsessed with the word, 's***e', I though an appropriate method for disposing of the manuscript would be to shred it and put it with all the other paper used to absorb my Umbrella Cockatoo's effluence.
There is a certain irony in the fact Sir Alex Ferguson is condemning his club's fans for their despicable anti-Liverpool chants at the recent match at Wigan because it was only after his comments about 'knocking Liverpool off their perch' after he came down from Scotland, that anything approaching a serious rivalry existed between the two clubs. Prior to his arrival, LFC's main rivals were Everton and MUFC's were Manchaster City.
"As ye sow, so shall ye reap." (or something like that). For most of my life, I didn't 'do' emotion; and it's not in my nature to associate myself with anything which might be described as a 'cause'; but, I have been proud to wear a HFSG bracelet ever since they were introduced. For some reasons difficult to explain, however, I'm a little ill-at-ease about some of the reactions to what has been revealed by The Hillsborough Independent Panel.
But, more of that later. As I've often explained in this blog, ever since I realised I was born in the city, I've been a supporter of Liverpool Football Club. In those days, to some extent, the club chose you because it was customary to support your local team. Having said that, although I stood in the Boy's enclosure at Anfield, as a child, and have often watched 'away' games since moving from the region, I have become increasingly dis illusioned with association football in recent times. In fact, although it's a month since the start of the 2012/13 season, I haven't felt inclined to watch a single game on TV. Now, there could be a number of reasons for this. For example, an opportunity to admire what I consider to be the more honest endeavours we saw at The Olympic and Paralympic games, or cricket, Formula One, motor-cycle, and pedal-cycle racing, rugby union, and tennis; all of which are far more appealing (to me) than the shenanigans currently on display in the English Premier League. Sadly (and I've struggled for several months to understand the situation I'm about to describe), I suspect that the seeds for my growing disenchantment with football were sown during an evening I spent with a fellow Liverpuddlian. It would serve no purpose to identify him; however, in the unlikely event that he'll read this blog, he knows who he is. All I will reveal is that he is well- educated, well-travelled, and successful; to some extent - some might say - characteristics I could claim for myself. However, there is a vital difference; and that is that he supports Everton Football Club; not a casual fan (as it could be said I am); but a real fan - who, despite living over 100 miles from Merseyside, is a season-ticket holder and attends most away games as well. Furthermore, as if that wasn't enough, he acknowledges his Scottish ancestry by being an extremely active member of The Tartan Army and attends all their away games, too. Unfortunately - and notwithstanding the fact I was a guest - from the moment I stepped into his home, the opinionated Toffee made no attempt to conceal his dislike for LFC; and, in particular, their fans. As I mentioned to his wife on the following morning, I was completely taken aback by the ferocity of his contempt; and, even now, I am confused by my own reaction to it. Somewhat naively (perhaps because I had been away from the area for so long) I had always understood that the rivalry between Liverpool and Everton supporters was good-humoured. I'm pretty certain that's how it used to be in the forties; and more recently, in the eighties, I remember attending a Cup Final replay between the two clubs at Manchester City's old ground at Maine Road which was referred to as 'The Friendly Final' (I had travelled down from Glasgow, BTW). Evidently, however, on the basis of my aforementioned encounter, the relationship nowadays is anything but friendly. Indeed, my host claimed that his own sentiments (which, quite frankly, I thought were astonishing) were moderate. Whether that's true or not, I don't care to speculate upon; what was clear, though, was that it appears that the extreme bad feelings started after the Heysel stadium disaster when 39 Juventus fans were killed after a wall collapsed on them whilst running away from Liverpool fans in 1985. As a consequence of these circumstances, English teams were placed under an indefinite ban by UEFA from all European competitions (lifted in 1990–91). Although, it could be argued that all English teams were equally affected by the ban, what aggravated the Everton fans (certainly, the one I'm speaking of) was that it was their opinion that their team, at that time, was on the verge of qualifying more often for European competitions and the fact that the behaviour of Liverpool fans was deemed responsible for the ban compounded their disappointment; and their bitter rival's well-documented successes in Europe before and since the tragedy has probably added to their sense of injustice. Clearly, this resentment has festered for years (a generation, at least) and to a quite alarming degree; it was even suggested, at some stage, that 96 (the number of LFC supporters who died at Hillsborough) isn't high enough. So, it's hardly surprising that my opinion of, so-called, committed fans is extremely low and might explain why I'm experiencing a deepening revulsion for football; and, in particular, those who take what I believe to be a 'game' far too seriously. Returning, finally, to issues arising out of The Hillsborough disclosures. Whilst I have, in my own small way, tried to support the families of those who perished and applaud their determination in achieving 'The Truth', I do fear there's a danger of alienating some who may be sympathetic to their cause by 'over-egging' the situation. Similarly, I can't say I'm comfortable with those who seem to be climbing onto what is becoming a 'bandwagon' - and for reasons which may be politically motivated. Hopefully, the good folk of Liverpool will not be blinded by such blatant opportunism. Even before the recent Olympics; and as demonstrated by earlier blogs over the past year (see SPORT category - right) Association Football (to give it its proper title) is becoming less and less attractive from my personal point of view. At my time of life, most of my 'participation' in sport is restricted to watching it on TV; and, more than once over the past year, I've remarked on how - given the choice - I have found that watching Rugby Union, for example, has become far more appealing than football.
There are a variety of reasons for this and many of them are contained in this excellent article. Interestingly, however, it doesn't deal with some of the issues which have contributed towards my own disenchantment; and that is what I can only describe as cheating - and, going on from that, the failure of the authorities to address the problem. Cheating, by the way, comes in many forms (far too many to mention in a single blog) but I mean things like shirt-pulling or elbowing, but - put simply - anything contrary to the rules of the game. The greatest problem, however IMHO, arises from actions designed to mislead (or 'fool') officials. In particular, diving or feigning an injury - especially those perceived to have been caused by an opponent which could lead to a penalty or a dismissal. Worse still, I find the practice of surrounding officials - often in a threatening manner - whilst attempting to influence decisions is disgraceful and, probably more than anything else, highlights a fundamental difference between football and rugby (both codes) where the decision of the referee is final. The notion, for example, that an eighteen-stone prop forward could call a referee, "a f*****g whatever" - and face no disciplinary action is completely out of the question. Sadly, despite murmurs from that direction, I don't have very much confidence that the English F.A. is likely to do anything to resolve the problem; and, insofar as FIFA are concerned, who could take seriously any organisation that thinks that England are the third best footballing nation in the world? Following an incident which caused a British crew to pull up shortly after the start of their rowing race because of a mechanical malfunction, Sir Steve Redgrave said - on live TV - "If it's not actually broken, make sure it IS." Incredibly - or, so it seems to me - Britain's (alledgedly) greatest Olympian was suggesting that something which bordered on cheating was acceptable. It grieves me to say this, but IMHO, that was not in the true spirit of the games; and, on that basis, I feel that the fact that the the Brits were beaten into second place might be an example of poetic justice. Furthermore, reports that a member of the British cycling team is said to have admitted employing similar methods to engineer a re-start after a poor start in the Velodrome is disturbing. It seems to be generally accepted that last night's Opening Ceremony was a success. However, from a personal point of view, although some of the early section brought a patriotic tear to the eye and lump to the throat, once the 'historical' content was over, a lot of what followed seemed drawn-out, at best, and somewhat uneccessary at worst - especially when considering the inevitable (and quite proper) length of time the parade of competing countries was bound to take. Speaking of which, I'm surprised that more hasn't (yet) been made of what appeared to be a Nazi salute from one of the German officials. Going on from that, I'm also surprised that - having quite admirably demonstrated the 'legacy' aspect of these games by getting former Olympians to 'hand-over' the reins to allow the younger generation to light the flame - the organisers rather lost the plot by allowing a seventy-year-old to top the bill (as it were). BTW, rather worrying rumours that the former Beatle demanded a six-figure sum for appearing are circulating in some quarters. Let's hope they're not true. Turning to today's events, as someone who lives within a couple of miles of part of the route taken by the men's cycling road race, I was astonished by how many came out to support the riders. I hope the predicted rather less encouraging weather forecast isn't used as an excuse for the turn-out for tomorrow's lady's race to be disappointing. Previous. As the first competitive day gets under way, it has occurred to me that the Olympics have played a significant - yet, subliminal - role in my life over the past few years. For example, on the day after it was announced that the bid had been successful, I was delivering a new mini-bus into central London; and, as a consequence, was affected by the severe disruption caused by the terrorist bomb attacks in the capital. Interestingly, it isn't beyond the realms of possibility that the actual bus which was ripped apart may well have been one of many I had delivered throughout London on earlier occasions (before and after photos below).   Later, because two (1) (2) of the garages into which I delivered buses were located in the area which was to become the Olympic Park, I witnessed the early stages of the process which would change a derelict area of the East End into something far more attractive. Subsequently, as the years passed, other subtle changes came to pass; not least in the area of Surrey where we live - where very welcome improvements to road surfaces where carried out in readiness for the cycling road races today and tomorrow. Another reason I've been conscious of the Olympics has been the fact that I live within the area covered by the BBC London regional television channel. So, for quite a few years, games-related issues have featured in news reports on an almost daily basis; and I have to say it seemed somewhat disingenuous of them to be so obsequious after last night's Opening Ceremony - having broadcast almost anything their reporter could lay his hands on which might discredit the event. |
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