That decision and its consequences
In this season of great football at Goodison Park one infamous incident stands out head and shoulders above all others, the decision by referee Mark Calttenburg not to award a penalty in the dying seconds of the derby match. Other decisions in that game were hugely questionable but his abject refusal to consider a blatant penalty stands out above all others. The rancour felt by Everton supporters at that time was only equalled by the infamy created by Clive Thomas all those years ago. The only people to claim it was not a penalty were Clattenburg, Benitez and the Anfield Chorus, no independent witness could believe his decision. Matters were not helped when Clattenburg’s unhealthy associations with Liverpool Football Club entered the public domain. Without wishing to rake over old ground it is sufficient to say that Clattenburg's position as an independent arbiter was compromised beyond doubt.
In any walk of life if someone employed in a policing capacity is found to be ‘compromised’ in the way Clattenburg was it is normal for his governing body to remove him from the line of fire for his sake, protecting his integrity until an investigation is held and the slurs against the individual are removed or proven. The English FA in their usual arrogant fashion not only took no action against this compromised referee by means of suspension or indeed to serve then in a lower league they brought charges against the person making the allegations namely David Moyes..
It has since transpired that Clattenburg has admitted to journalists that he got it wrong, no apology which is a norm for some clubs, no FA dropping the charges against David Moyes, just a statement to some Fleet Street hacks, ‘I got it wrong’. Why he has admitted as much at this late date only compounds the charge against him as his refusal to consider a penalty at the time was accompanied by a laughing face, not the action of anyone seriously considering a vital incident.
Lets examine the potential cost of his ‘I got it wrong’ decision to Everton Football Club, a possible extra point, of course if the resulting penalty had been scored but it would have meant two less for Liverpool, a three point swing. At this moment in time Clattenburgs decision has potentially cost Everton a six point lead on Liverpool and a potential challenge for third place in the league. In financial terms its measurement can only be described in millions. The FA continue to press a wholly unjust campaign against David Moyes, having been forced to drop one charge they ludicrously insist of pursuing the other despite the fact that the entire issue is a big black mark against their tainted official.
The FA have, under terms of any legal system in the free world, breached all laws of fairness by accepting Clattenburgs compromised position and allowing him to continue to officiate at the highest level, including refereeing matches involving Liverpool. When David Moyes goes before that hearing I shudder to think what that rigged jury will make of his case. Will they actually look at those decisions of Clattenburg, will they even bother to seek explanation from the referee about his connections with Liverpool Football Club, ask him how he managed to get so many things so badly wrong, I honestly don't think so. Having examined the decision reached by the FA in the Alladiere incident nothing surprises me any more and is it a coincidence that the opposing player who struck first was not even charged, and yes he was a Liverpool player.
I am becoming more a more concerned over how our game is run, the lack of contact between the governing body and the grass roots support a perceived bias to the so called 'Sky Big Four' who terrify them with the threat of a further break away the FA bend over backwards to 'accommodate each one'. In the main the FA are a bunch of amateurs, that is no insult but a factual description. A body charged with the governance of a multi million pound industry to be run in this fashion is bordering total stupidity. The FA must be seen to be totally transparent in its dealings with all clubs, favouring no one but we are faced with Brian Barwick, its MD if you like exposing his love of Liverpool Football Club, its funny how that name keeps cropping up.
The FA case against David Moyes should be heard by a totally independent board with legal council allowed on both sides. It should examine every single aspect of this dreadful business, especially the impartiality of the referee and his bizarre decisions that still beggar belief, if they don’t the stench of corruption will fill the air and it may not only be Everton Football club to suffer by way of losing a champions league place due to potential corruption as the world will see how shambolic an organisation the FA really is.
Author: Monty (on our forums)
In this season of great football at Goodison Park one infamous incident stands out head and shoulders above all others, the decision by referee Mark Calttenburg not to award a penalty in the dying seconds of the derby match. Other decisions in that game were hugely questionable but his abject refusal to consider a blatant penalty stands out above all others. The rancour felt by Everton supporters at that time was only equalled by the infamy created by Clive Thomas all those years ago. The only people to claim it was not a penalty were Clattenburg, Benitez and the Anfield Chorus, no independent witness could believe his decision. Matters were not helped when Clattenburg’s unhealthy associations with Liverpool Football Club entered the public domain. Without wishing to rake over old ground it is sufficient to say that Clattenburg's position as an independent arbiter was compromised beyond doubt.
In any walk of life if someone employed in a policing capacity is found to be ‘compromised’ in the way Clattenburg was it is normal for his governing body to remove him from the line of fire for his sake, protecting his integrity until an investigation is held and the slurs against the individual are removed or proven. The English FA in their usual arrogant fashion not only took no action against this compromised referee by means of suspension or indeed to serve then in a lower league they brought charges against the person making the allegations namely David Moyes..
It has since transpired that Clattenburg has admitted to journalists that he got it wrong, no apology which is a norm for some clubs, no FA dropping the charges against David Moyes, just a statement to some Fleet Street hacks, ‘I got it wrong’. Why he has admitted as much at this late date only compounds the charge against him as his refusal to consider a penalty at the time was accompanied by a laughing face, not the action of anyone seriously considering a vital incident.
Lets examine the potential cost of his ‘I got it wrong’ decision to Everton Football Club, a possible extra point, of course if the resulting penalty had been scored but it would have meant two less for Liverpool, a three point swing. At this moment in time Clattenburgs decision has potentially cost Everton a six point lead on Liverpool and a potential challenge for third place in the league. In financial terms its measurement can only be described in millions. The FA continue to press a wholly unjust campaign against David Moyes, having been forced to drop one charge they ludicrously insist of pursuing the other despite the fact that the entire issue is a big black mark against their tainted official.
The FA have, under terms of any legal system in the free world, breached all laws of fairness by accepting Clattenburgs compromised position and allowing him to continue to officiate at the highest level, including refereeing matches involving Liverpool. When David Moyes goes before that hearing I shudder to think what that rigged jury will make of his case. Will they actually look at those decisions of Clattenburg, will they even bother to seek explanation from the referee about his connections with Liverpool Football Club, ask him how he managed to get so many things so badly wrong, I honestly don't think so. Having examined the decision reached by the FA in the Alladiere incident nothing surprises me any more and is it a coincidence that the opposing player who struck first was not even charged, and yes he was a Liverpool player.
I am becoming more a more concerned over how our game is run, the lack of contact between the governing body and the grass roots support a perceived bias to the so called 'Sky Big Four' who terrify them with the threat of a further break away the FA bend over backwards to 'accommodate each one'. In the main the FA are a bunch of amateurs, that is no insult but a factual description. A body charged with the governance of a multi million pound industry to be run in this fashion is bordering total stupidity. The FA must be seen to be totally transparent in its dealings with all clubs, favouring no one but we are faced with Brian Barwick, its MD if you like exposing his love of Liverpool Football Club, its funny how that name keeps cropping up.
The FA case against David Moyes should be heard by a totally independent board with legal council allowed on both sides. It should examine every single aspect of this dreadful business, especially the impartiality of the referee and his bizarre decisions that still beggar belief, if they don’t the stench of corruption will fill the air and it may not only be Everton Football club to suffer by way of losing a champions league place due to potential corruption as the world will see how shambolic an organisation the FA really is.
Author: Monty (on our forums)
