By Andi Thomas and Alex Netherton
For Manchester United fans, the game was possibly the most hilarious moment of schadenfreude since Wayne Rooney requested a transfer and ended up being injured by Paul Scholes in training a couple of days later. For Chelsea fans, it was the most infuriating moment they’ve had since finding that captain, leader, legend, John Terry, is not permitted to call Anton Ferdinand anything he damn well pleases (that, at least, is the implication behind the booing). The ensuing hysteria was clearly inevitable, given that This Is England. When there’s refereeing controversy, it’s simply impossible to review the game in any reasonable fashion. If you can’t believe that’s the case, then just check out the precis of Sky Sports website report of the game:
‘Controversy controversy controversy. Controversy controversy controversy controversy, controversy controversy controversy controversy. “Controversy controversy controversy controversy, controversy controversy – controversy controversy controversy controversy – controversy controversy controversy controversy.” Controversy controversy controversy controversy. Controversy controversy controversy controversy controversy controversy, “Controversy controversy controversy controversy? Controversy controversy. Controversy controversy!”
And the first reader comment underneath sums it up:
‘Controversy controversy!!!!!’
Really, though, it wasn’t an unbelievable series of events. Walking step-by-step through the decisions shows that Mark Clattenburg made a few silly decisions, but that things could have been much worse for Chelsea, and possibly Manchester United. This was not the result of some grand conspiracy, it was essentially a demonstrable balls up that got out of hand not because of its severity, but because everybody is shouting so loudly. First, the Branislav Ivanovic sending off. Ashley Young was through on goal, and Ivanovic probably took the right decision. By running across him, he was able to trip Young (feel free to disagree, it’s not impossible to see it the other way) while Young was, crucially, outside the penalty box. He prevented a one-on-one and penalty in the process. It’s called a professional foul for this very reason. Playing the percentages, it was the right decision by Ivanovic, and then in due course Clattenburg to send him off. Any shouting about this is tish and fipsy.
Next, Fernando Torres. In first half-stoppage time, the sad-eyed blond with the elvish tattoos and the lingering aura of decay introduced his foot, recklessly, into the chest of Tom Cleverley. At the last World Cup, nobody could understand why Nigel de Jong hadn’t been sent off for the same challenge in the final, but because Torres has no reputation, everybody was reasonably happy to accept that Torres was soundly treated with a yellow card. He probably should—and certainly could—have seen red.
Half an hour or so later, Torres finds himself scooting past Johnny ‘Jonny’ Evans, and overhits the ball in the process. Evans slides in, foolishly, and catches Torres’ ankle/lower leg. A trip, or attempt to trip a player is a foul. Evans deserved a yellow card and Chelsea would have had a free kick. However, simulation is defined as, ‘any simulating action anywhere on the field, which is intended to deceive the referee, must be sanctioned as unsporting behaviour,’ which should itself be punished by a yellow card. Torres, upon feeling Evans’s boot on his leg, exaggerated the contact to the extent that he was attempting to deceive the referee into thinking that he had been sufficiently impeded that he had to fall to the ground. He could have continued running, but he didn’t, and for a further flourish went down holding his untouched knee. This is simulation, and for that, Clattenburg was correct to book Torres and send him off. Finally, Hernandez was definitely offside when he scored; this was a straight-up wrong decision by the linesman. It was, though, a difficult one from the linesman’s perspective, and also probably not that important. We can’t know for sure, but if it hadn’t stood, United wouldn’t have reverted to possession football to close out the match. Had they continued to press for the winner, they would likely have found it, since Chelsea were largely terrible at defending even with eleven men. The four dodgyish decisions, all in context, at worst mark a poor officiating performance, but not one out of the realm of possibility (or into the realm of corruption).
Now. If everybody could stop shouting for a moment, we might be able to concentrate on the far more serious report that Mark Clattenburg is alleged to have used racially abusive language towards John Obi Mikel (who incidentally could/should have been sent off for a challenge on Antonio Valencia). Whatever happens next, we are set fair for another soul-sapping saga of claim and counter-claim, and a reprise of the deeply miserable lessons regarding racism and moral relativism within football. (Even before the allegation was made, the booing of Rio Ferdinand sank the heart.) This is where English football is, now: either you get pointlessly furious about the irrelevant, or you get thoroughly depressed about the sinister. We do hope that next weekend’s racism and corruption finds time for a little football.
***
Alternatively, if you really want to complain about poor decision by officials, then hie thee to Goodison Park, for the decision to rule out Luis Suarez’s late, late winner for offside was probably the worst of the day. Offside’s a tricky business, what with one poor sod armed with a flag having to watch at least two defensive players, any number of attacking players, and the ball, which can at times be an inconsiderate distance away. But here, as the ball came off Sebastian Coates’s head, everything was in its right place: defenders lined-up, attackers neatly behind them. It’s the kind of decision that referees’ assistants must dream of being able to assist the referee with, yet up went the flag anyway.
Fortunately, the decision to scratch the goal meant that this picture of Steven Gerrard went from nauseating to hilarious, so the greater good was ultimately served.
“introduced his foot, recklessly, into the chest of Tom Cleverley.”
Fair play to Cleverly for dusting off and getting on with it without hysterics.
Sir,
What about the Rooney challenge who was already on his first yellow after a horrible challenge near the box from behind that led to Mata goal? He fouled foolishly a Chelsea player when they were 2 men down. This was a clear yellow card, more blatant that any of Chelsea’s expulsions , Alex Ferguson even took him off minutes later. You haven’t said a word about that…
Also, give me a break if that’s yellow for diving, Young and most ManU players should’ve been booked gazillions of times.
Finally, I find it horrible that a ref completely changed the results in favor of ManU who were outclassed for 90% of the game until the second red.
P.S: It’s clear that you are ManU fan and it’s pretty pathetic to be biased when you’re in your domain.
outclassed for 90 percent of the game? good joke
laughed a gazillion times
Not 90%…more like 70%.
Man u suck so bad. Even at one player down Chelsea would’ve won that game.
man u needs two red cards and an offside goal to win by 1…impressive =)
Can’t wait till they get absolutely destroyed in Europe this year =)
Great post. Though I’m sure those who aren’t neutrals will scream as you predict.
Vlad got in before I could post. funny.
Ok First off , Chelsea bias , but after 44 years I aint blind to the game by the team i support…..some points
1) Two fo you wrote this and carry the same bias ……
2) You have been pulled up above , but if torres is simulation SO IS YOUNG….DOnt tell me he didnt make a meal of that contact…..
3) Rooney should have gone, fergie knew it and did it himself
4) The fact clattenberg IGNORED a sub from chelsea to take torres off prior to the incident is missed ( as it has been in many media outlets)
5) If embleishing a foul is carded consistently then fiar enough…i could count fifty occassions when a ref is shown the contact by the players falling over….even Mr Owen admitted as much and called it a skill…….Diving is normally called on NO contact…..
To argue they would have scored another if the offside had been called is fruitless….they didnt ……
Really starting to worry about the quality of this blog, If as i suspect KJ and James disappear to tv only it will be a very sad state of affairs that this is what their legacy in being allowed to be !!!!!
If you are concerned with the lack of quality of the blog then don’t read it. Don’t come on here with your venomous tongue and lead an attack on the writers of the blog in the public forum. If you are so concerned send a private email or start your own blog about your love for your pathetic captain JohnTerry and posh Chelsea. Comments like this are getting really old, stick to the football.
*I really dont think there was some grand conspiracy to make Chelsea lose the game in all do respects.
Ouch…someone jelly lol. U jelly anthonyyyy??
I pretty much would’ve said similar things to Loz…except all in CAPS LOL.
“Venomous Tongue and lead an attack of the writers in the public forum”
“your love for your pathetic captain John Terry and posh Chelsea”
“comments like this are getting old”
YOUR comments are getting old, its a public forum as you stated, and all Loz was doing was stating his opinion (what public forums are for)
So dont hold yourself high and mighty, obviously it was not a conspiracy, chelsea deserved to go 1man down, maybe 2 (if all other dives, the several a game were called) but rooney should have been sent off, and the offside goal, shouldnt have counted.
And for a person who as a professional writes on sports, to say that they probably would have conceded again anyways is ridiculous.
Chelsea were the better side even after Ivanovic was sent off.
As a Chelsea fan, im actually not that bothered by this match, all it showed me is that Chelsea is the superior side. Without a Boatful of luck Man U’s decade of defeats at the bridge would have continued
So where did I back Terry ….no where…Where did I claim conspiracy …..Nowhere…..If the writers dont want public feedback disable it……
I have been here for many , many years , and if you dont think the loss of Joe Ross, Dobby and Dunlop have hurt this brand it proves like your comments how shortsighted you are…….
Read KJs piece on the weekend and compare it to this ….CASE CLOSED !!!!
How about attribute this to some bad bad luck to Chelsea? Oh yeah, of course they never got a favourable call at Stamford Bridge…oh wait.
Seriously the flame war wouldn’t get anyone anywhere, and if any of you Chelsea fans read the article, you would spot that the writers are playing DEVIL’S ADVOCATE (or Fergie’s advocate).
Great post as per usual guys! Spot on!
*Nasri to Clichy*
“Fabregas told Cazorla to go to arsenal to win trophies.”
*Kolo Toure listening in*
“…ppppfffffffffffffffffftttt….hahahhahahhahahHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH HA HAH H HAAH…”
are u even sane manu fan?
trying to show a one sided story.the ivanovic foul WOULD not have been given as a red iin many stadiums incuding old trafford for the home team most probably a yellow.
but u forgot to mention that the article 12 also applied to young or rather as u would make it to be he was pushed by a mad ox.
u also forgot to tell how rooney remained on the pitch.
oh u also forgot how chelsea were denied the torres substitution before his sending off
.then again u forgot to tell how manu needed an OFFSIDE goal to win against 9 man chelsea.
this article is pathetic and far from truth.only thing united did is to buy refs and after southahmpton and liverpool their “best” signing” for the past 20 years striked again.well done manu well done…………..
When in doubt, always turn to the “Manchester United bought off the refs”. It is the only logical explanation after all.
Exaggeration isn’t the same as simulation. Making the most of contact is different from there being no contact at all. I think the yellow card was incorrect. Pierluigi Collina said “If touched and fouled, a player has every right to go to ground.”
Also, how is a missed offside decision Mark Clattenburg’s fault- not the referee’s call to make.
Chelsea, like every other bloody team, has gotten it’s fair share of luck over the years, especially at the Bridge. There was no grand conspiracy to deny Chelsea points, just a shite referee (which Clattenburg has always been).
It’s still kind of funny that it happened to Chelsea though.
did all the chelsea fans forget this??
http://therepublikofmancunia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Offside.jpg